May 26, 2013

Sen. Graham questions Kagan on legal, liberal viewpoint (VIDEO)

U.S. Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan began taking questions Tuesday from members of the Senate Judiciary Committee.  Senator Lindsey Graham’s time at the mic allowed him to jab at the Obama administration, and at times share some laughs with the lady on the hot seat.

Recount gives Pratt 6th District GOP primary win

A recount confirms that GOP candidate Jim Pratt won the 6th Congressional District primary.

When the votes were tallied in last week’s primary run-off, St. Matthew’s businessman Jim Pratt led with less than one percent of the votes, which required a recount. The recount was held Monday morning resulting in only one vote being changed for Pratt. The total for Nancy Harrelson, a Marion County resident remained the same.

the count upheld Pratt’s narrow win over GOP rival Harrelson in the 6th Congressional District. The unofficial total was 13,689 to 13,578, or 50.2 percent for Pratt. The State Election Commission is expected to certify the results Tuesday making Pratt the Republican nominee to challenge Democratic House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn.

The 6th District includes 15 counties stretching from the coast to the Midlands.

Clarendon County clerk attacked, beaten at office

A Clarendon County employee who was set to retire on Tuesday was assaulted overnight Monday in the Clarendon County administrative building.

Betty Pritchard, an administrative clerk to the Clarendon County Council, was reportedly cleaning out her office shortly after midnight when she was attacked. Police Chief Blair Shaffer said the attack happened after Pritchard called her husband from the office. She was packing up to take home her personal items in anticipation of her retirement on Wednesday.

Pritchard who may have been unconscious for a period of time, was unable to call 911 until about 4:30 a.m. When police arrived, they found the doors to the offices locked and officers had to kick their way in.

Pritchard was transported to Clarendon Memorial Hospital, where she was initially treated, then flown to Palmetto Health Richland in Columbia. She suffered a broken arm, a severed fingertip and head injuries.

Greene: I want to move SC forward, ready to face DeMint

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Alvin Greene has pending charges against him for allegedly showing a USC student pornographic images and he now faces a SLED investigation on how he managed to pay his $10,400 filing fee to run for Senate. On Charleston affiliate WTMA, Greene responds to his recent primary victory as he gears up for the general election, despite all the recent criticism.

AUDIO: Greene responds to victory(:28)

Greene will face Senator Jim DeMint in November’s general election. Questions remain on how Greene even got his name on the primary ballot and if someone gave him the filing fee to run. Greene responds:

AUDIO: Did someone give Greene money to run? (:25)

Greene says he does plan on debating DeMint in September.

AUDIO: Greene’s comments on debate (:18)

Greene says he has what it takes to beat DeMint, and says he can do more than the current senator.

AUDIO: Greene asks what DeMint is doing (:29)

As for some background, Greene speaks about his discharge from the military.

AUDIO: Greene speaks about his military discharge (:24)

Greene says the public will hear more about his discharge in the next few weeks.

SLED investigates Greene, Limehouse has concerns

Charleston Representative Chip Limehouse handles the funding for indigent defense in the House Ways and Means Committee. He says he was curious how South Carolina Democratic Senate candidate Alvin Greene was able to receive indigent defense for his charge of showing pornography to a University of South Carolina student. Earlier this month Limehouse sent a letter asking for a SLED investigation on the possibility that Greene may owe the government money if he did not require a public defender.

“He filed in March and he got his indigent defense money in November. Maybe the $10,000 materialized between November and March. I don’t know, maybe he saved it. But, that was my thought was how was he qualified for indigent defense if he has $10,000 in the bank.

Limehouse says he just wants to know one thing: “I like to see where the money came from. I wouldn’t think it would be good if someone just handed him the money. I think you are suppose to report when you are in a federal race there are some federal reporting guidelines you have to go through. I don’t think someone can just hand you a wad of cash and say go file, so that may be a problem for him right there.

SLED’s investigation on Alvin Greene’s $10,000 filing fee continues.