Two House pages, lobbyist allege harassment by former state representative

The S.C. House Ethics Committee voted unanimously Tuesday to publicly continue an investigation into former state Rep. Edward Southard.

The committee found – 9-0 – there was probable cause that the Berkeley Republican violated House policy.

The committee released redacted reports detailing allegations of inappropriate behavior by Southard toward two House pages and a lobbyist. Southard’s behavior was directed at African-American females who perceived the attention as inappropriate, according to an investigation by the Fisher and Philips Columbia law firm.

In a February letter, S.C. House Speaker Jay Lucas, R-Darlington, instructed Southard, 69, to have no contact with a House page who had accused the legislator of making “her uncomfortable by touching her, hugging her and being too close to her.” Southard signed that letter on Feb. 9.

On April 7, Fisher and Phillips was asked to investigate another complaint of inappropriate conduct by Southard.

According to that investigation, a page said she was sitting at Southard’s House desk on March 21, working on a document, when the Berkeley Republican placed his hand on her right leg and squeezed. Southard told investigators it is possible he slapped the page’s knee when telling her that she was doing a good job.

The page said the married Southard told her to come home with him, commenting how beautiful she was and how she should be a queen, or “his queen.” Southard told investigators he did not recall telling the page she was beautiful or making any comments about a queen.

According to the report, Southard acknowledged “he does compliment women in a similar fashion, giving as an example how he might say to a server in a restaurant, ‘It’s nice to be served by such a pretty girl.’”

The page also said Southard put his foot under hers while her legs were crossed. “(The page) states she backed away from the desk to avoid this foot contact and (Southard) asked her again if she was nervous.”

Other lawmakers were interviewed about the incident, but none said they “witnessed the events described by” the page, the report said.

Afterward, several witnesses described the page as visibly upset, frightened, nervous, unhappy, distraught and slumped over.

Fisher and Phillips also detailed the account of a lobbyist who said she had an encounter with Southard this spring.

The lobbyist had told Southard she was interested in buying a car. Southard offered to show her his son’s car, which was for sale, in the State House parking garage.

Southard escorted the lobbyist to the vehicle, who got in the passenger side, as he got in the driver side, according to the law firm’s report. After talking about the car, the lobbyist alleged “Rep. Southard suddenly grabbed her left forearm and began saying, ‘Go out with me’ and ‘Why won’t you go out with me?’”

That incident could not be substantiated because there were no witnesses and the lobbyist did not confide in anyone at the time. However, the conduct the lobbyist accused Southard of “closely corresponds with statements and actions alleged by other African-American females,” the law firm said in its report.

Reached by phone on Tuesday, Southard said he’s “been advised for five weeks now not to say a word,” adding, “especially to the media.”

Southard told the Associated Press on Tuesday that he had been promised the allegations against him would be dropped if he resigned from the House, which he did in April.

However, the Republican’s name is still on the ballot for the District 100 House seat that he formerly held. Southard does not have a challenger in the upcoming June GOP primary or November general election.

Southard said Tuesday he could not say what his plans are concerning the November election.

Southard is the second House member in two years to face allegations of harassment. Former state Rep. Nelson Hardwick , R-Horry, resigned last year after a sexual-harassment allegation was filed by a female House staff member.

Hardwick was indicted in October on a count of misconduct in office, a misdemeanor that carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison.

This story was originally published May 17, 2016 at 5:10 PM with the headline "Two House pages, lobbyist allege harassment by former state representative."