SC House members stand by embattled speaker

By Rick Brundrett | The Nerve

It appears that arguably the most powerful lawmaker in the South Carolina General Assembly would hold his title if his colleagues voted today.

Nine House members, both Republicans and Democrats, who were interviewed Friday by The Nerve said that for now, they would vote to re-elect House Speaker Bobby Harrell, R-Charleston, as the leader of the 124-member chamber.

The chamber’s organizational meeting is at least seven months away, but House members contacted by The Nerve confirmed that Harrell, who has been the speaker since 2005, has been asking House members in recent weeks for their support of his speakership, though they contended the timing isn’t unusual.

Harrell, a House member since 1993, is under investigation by the state grand jury, a division of the Attorney General’s Office, for possible violations of state ethics laws, though he is fighting a legal battle to remove Attorney General Alan Wilson from his case.

at The Nerve.