Legal loophole could benefit SC house speaker in ethics case

By Rick Brundrett | The Nerve

It’s no secret South Carolina lawmakers have written — and continue to craft — loopholes in state law that allow them to skate on ethics charges.

The Nerve last week was made aware of another such loophole that could help House Speaker Bobby Harrell should Circuit Judge Casey Manning decide to transfer his case from the state grand jury, which decides whether to issue indictments in criminal public corruption cases, to the House Ethics Committee, which can impose only civil sanctions for ethics violations by House members and candidates.

That longstanding loophole, found in Section 8-13-540 (1) (b) of the S.C. Code of Laws, reads, “No complaint shall be accepted (by the House or Senate Ethics committees) which is filed later than four years after the alleged violation occurred.”

at The Nerve.