Can Wilson have a role in a case where he has a conflict?

S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson’s involvement in a State House public corruption investigation after recusing himself, citing conflicts with lawmakers who are targets of the probe, drew skepticism from legal experts – and a defense from his chief deputy.

S.C. REP. TOMMY POPE, R-YORK

 

“The attorney general is bringing himself trouble that he didn’t need to by hanging onto a piece of the case. It looks bad,” said Pope, who, like Wilson, is a likely candidate for the Republican gubernatorial nomination in 2018.

“I’m not sure why Alan dragged himself back into it. It defeats the whole purpose of taking yourself out of the case.”

S.C. SEN. GREG HEMBREE

 

“That’s what we’re taught in law school ... if it even has an appearance of impropriety.”

But Hembree acknowledged Wilson’s disagreement with special prosecutor David Pascoe raises novel legal issues in South Carolina because the dispute involves Pascoe’s attempt to use the State Grand Jury, which falls under the Attorney General’s jurisdiction.

RETRED LAW ETHICS PROFESSOR JOHN FREEMAN

 

Freeman said Wilson’s news conference last week in which he criticized Pascoe for his decision to seek a State Grand Jury investigation without the attorney general’s approval will have defense attorneys representing anyone charged in the investigation “licking their chops.”

S.C. CHIEF DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL JOHN McINTOSH

 

“(Y)ou were given full power to prosecute this matter at the local level if you deemed such action to be appropriate,” McIntosh wrote. “However, rather than seeking explicit authority ... you sought to initiate that investigation surreptitiously with respect to this office.

This story was originally published April 2, 2016 at 5:11 PM with the headline "Can Wilson have a role in a case where he has a conflict?."