Haley’s office receives domestic pledge from Richland Sheriff Lott
COLUMBIA, SC Gov. Nikki Haley’s office now has a signed anti-domestic violence pledge from all 46 sheriffs in South Carolina.
The governor accused Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott during a press conference Wednesday of being the only one of 46 sheriffs in the state not to sign her pledge. Lott said he told the governor’s office on Tuesday he agreed to sign onto a plan to improve officer response to domestic-violence calls and planned to submit the pledge on Thursday.
On Thursday afternoon, governor’s office spokesman Rob Godfrey tweeted a photo of Lott’s signed pledge.
“Finally in receipt of the 46th pledge. All it took was a little nudge from @nikkihaley,” Godfrey tweeted.
Haley said Wednesday that if Lott did turn in the pledge, it would only be due to this being an election year. Lott denied that, saying domestic violence has long been a priority for his department.
“We should be worrying about our state leading the nation in domestic violence related deaths,” Lott said. “Politics has nothing to do with this at all. If that’s being said about me, I guess that’s being the other 45 sheriffs that signed it also.”
Glen Luke Flanagan: 803-771-8305, @glenlflanagan
This story was originally published April 21, 2016 at 2:49 PM with the headline "Haley’s office receives domestic pledge from Richland Sheriff Lott."