‘Unforgivable:’ SC leaders react to guilty plea in corruption probe

S.C. lawmakers and others said Wednesday they were pleased with former state Rep. Rick Quinn’s guilty plea to a misconduct charge and his father Richard Quinn’s promise to cooperate with an ongoing State House corruption probe.

The agreements should help restore the public’s trust in government, they added.

“The governor has said from the beginning of these several investigations that public trust and confidence in the legal and judicial processes requires that they be allowed to run their course according to the law,” said Brian Symmes, spokesman for Gov. Henry McMaster, until recently a political client of Richard Quinn & Associates. “That has happened today as to two of these investigations, and that is important for the rule of law and for South Carolina.”

Ethics watchdog John Crangle said a pattern is emerging in how special prosecutor David Pascoe is dealing with the cases.

“Pascoe's real goal seems to be to identify corrupt people, convict them and put them out of commission. That's what he did to (former S.C. House Majority leader Jim) Merrill and (former S.C. House Speaker Bobby) Harrell,” who both pleaded guilty to ethics charges and resigned, Crangle said. “This sends a warning to other public officials that corruption in South Carolina is no longer tolerated.”

Crangle said he never expected the cases to go to trial.

“Jurors in South Carolina are very hostile to public corruption,” he said. “To take a corruption case to a jury trial in Richland County or in any other county in South Carolina would be a tough job (for the defense).”

The younger Quinn faces up to a year in prison. But some think the former House majority leader, a Lexington Republican, already has suffered enough punishment for his offense.

“I don't know if you go to prison, if that sends a strong message,” said state Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, R-Edgefield. “These folks have had their careers destroyed. Their names have been really maligned. ... They're facing a pretty significant penalty.”

Quinn’s guilty plea means South Carolinians “can begin to put this sad and frustrating episode behind us and focus on the issues that are important,” Massey said.

Others think jail time is necessary for justice to be done.

“I hope they spill their guts on all the folks they corrupted and that corrupted them, and then I hope they all go to jail,” said Phil Noble, a Charleston businessman and a Democratic candidate for governor. “I’m a Christian, and I believe in compassion and hope, but what they’ve done to the state is unforgivable.”

A spokesman for state Rep. James Smith said the Richland Democrat is running for governor because “we have to end the culture of corruption in Columbia that is holding our state back from achieving its fullest potential.”

This story was originally published December 13, 2017 at 8:24 PM with the headline "‘Unforgivable:’ SC leaders react to guilty plea in corruption probe."