COLUMBIA, S.C. (Legal Newsline) - An unnamed plaintiff is claiming in a lawsuit that the South Carolina Ethics Commission refuses to act on bribes in the state legislature.
John Doe filed a federal complaint on August 25 in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina against members of the South Carolina Ethics Commission; Alan Wilson, in his official capacity as Attorney General; and Byron Gipson, in his official capacity as Fifth Circuit Solicitor for declaratory relief and injunctive relief.
According to the complaint, a plaintiff acting anonymously for fear of criminal prosecution is demanding accountability from the South Carolina Ethics Commission for allegedly allowing elected officials to accept money from lobbyists in exchange for special legislative treatment for the lobbyist's interest.
The unnamed person alleges that public officials can accept payoffs from lobbyists as long as the cash is funneled through the lobbyist's wholly owned subsidiary. According to the plaintiff, the Commission has defended politicians' acceptance of money from lobbyists, arguing that the lawmakers' receipt of payments don't constitute an affiliation with the lobby since the money passed through a subsidiary.
The plaintiff seeks that the court enforce criminal provisions. He is represented by Christopher P. Kenney.
U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina Columbia Division case number 3:21-cv-02748-MGL