SC’s acting US attorney steps down, making way for Biden’s pending nomination
South Carolina has a new U.S. attorney, at least temporarily.
On Tuesday night, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed Corey Ellis as the interim U.S. attorney for South Carolina after acting U.S. Attorney Rhett DeHart announced his plans to to step down this week as President Joe Biden prepares to nominate a successor.
A South Carolina native, DeHart has been at the helm of the office since March when former U.S. Attorney Peter McCoy stepped down shortly after Biden took office. McCoy, a former state representative who now chairs the Santee Cooper board, was nominated by former President Donald Trump in February 2020.
DeHart told The State Tuesday that he is resigning Dec. 26 to go into private practice that will focus on white-collar criminal defense and false claims act cases — his specialty in the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Ellis, who was FBI Director Christopher Wray’s chief of staff, will temporarily stand in on a short-term basis until Biden names his nominee and that person is confirmed by the Senate. Ellis served as acting director of the executive office for U.S. attorneys.
He has an undergraduate degree from Brown University, and a law degree from the University of Memphis School of Law.
The South Carolina U.S. Attorney’s Office announced Ellis hours after DeHart announced his own departure for later this week.
“I’m 52. I was going to go into private practice either way,” DeHart said. “I was told the Biden administration is about to nominate somebody. I’m really excited, and look forward to helping.”
DeHart said he’ll miss the office, but said he looks forward to a bit more freedom, particularly on the political side.
He said he isn’t interested in running for elected office, but said he’s looking forward to being more involved in public affairs, a flexibility that’s harder to achieve in such an apolitical role.
The White House did not respond to a request for comment.
DeHart, a North Augusta native who lives in Mt. Pleasant, has been with the U.S. Attorney’s Charleston office since 2001.
His work focused on mostly white-collar fraud and child exploitation. Under McCoy, DeHart was first assistant, supervising the criminal, civil, appellate and administrative divisions of South Carolina, and was the main go-between for the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the chief U.S. District judge.
He cited two top highlights of his time in the U.S. Attorney’s Office. That includes resolving the prosecution in the fall out of the V.C. Summer nuclear debacle, where he helped negotiate plea agreements. He also cited taking on those charged with arson, inciting riots and other civil disorder during protests last summer from Charleston to Columbia in the aftermath of the death of George Floyd, a Black man who was murdered by a white police officer.
Asked whether he has any advice for the next U.S. attorney — who oversees offices in Charleston, Columbia, Greenville and Florence — DeHart said he suggests they push for adding on another.
With more than 5 million people, as of the 2020 census, DeHart said, geographically, it’s time for a state as big as South Carolina to have another U.S. attorney, similar to states like Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and West Virginia where they have three or two, respectively.
“We’re a productive office; we have a fine caseload,” DeHart said. “My point is it would be better if not just one person is over the entire state. ... I’m proud of what I did, (but) it’s a challenge. ... South Carolina is very unique in that regard.”
This story was originally published December 21, 2021 at 7:26 PM.
