Reaction to charges against SC Speaker of the House Bobby Harrell
Democratic response
GOP leadership corrupt. “(W)e need leaders who want to abide by the letter and the spirit of the law and earn the trust of the people who elected them. With a repeat offender, Nikki Haley, at the top of the Republican ticket, and her repeated and flagrant disregard for ethical standards, it’s no wonder that the Republican leadership in Columbia is so corrupt. It’s time for a change and new, honest leadership. ... (I)t is appropriate for Speaker Harrell to step down.”
– Sen. Vincent Sheheen, of Camden, the Democratic nominee for governor
Culture of corruption. “(W)hile the cases are pending the speaker should resign. ... This culture of corruption in South Carolina has to stop. Leaders on both sides of the aisle must be held accountable for ethical wrongdoing. Elected officials who break the law hurt the reputation of our great state and feed into the general mistrust of state government.”
– S.C. Democratic Party chairman Jaime Harrison
Republican response
Was pulling for speaker. “I was pulling for Speaker Harrell to get through this. Unfortunately, we are at a place where we need to get on the right path to move forward.”
– House Speaker Pro Tempore Jay Lucas, R-Darlington
Punch in the gut. “I was terribly disappointed in what I read (Harrell) allegedly did. ... (H)e's got some explaining to do. ... It really is a punch in the gut for everyone in public office.”
– State Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Larry Martin, R-Pickens
Hate to see. “The three top offices in South Carolina government are governor, speaker of the House and president pro tempore of the Senate. One hates to see any of those offices have potential problems that the indictment has indicated that Speaker Harrell has.”
– Sen. John Courson, R-Richland, Senate president pro tempore, 2012-2014
The watchdogs
Praise for attorney general. “The attorney general still managed to push forward and get something done, and he deserves a lot of credit. It has never happened that the most powerful people in the state have been held accountable until today. ... (T)he speaker should be immediately suspended from the House of Representatives.”
— S.C. Policy Council executive director Ashley Landess, who filed the original complaint against Harrell with Attorney General Alan Wilson, R-Lexington
Protectors delivered. “The League regards our attorney generals and solicitors as the essential protectors of the public interest. ... (T)hey delivered. They lived up to their responsibilities. ... (W)e hope that the remainder of the process, as Speaker Harrell presents his defense, continues to support confidence in the legal system, regardless of the outcome.”
– Lynn Teague, a League of Women Voters of S.C. vice president
Sweetheart-plea deal? “The allegations ... would justify felony charges and ... there's not a single felony count there. Today, there's a very bizarre mismatch between what he’s accused of having done and what he’s criminally charged for. I hope this is not a sign of giving him some kind of sweetheart-plea deal — giving him a slap on the wrist, let him pay a fine, do no time and continue in the House. But that's what it looks like to me.”
– John Crangle, executive director of Common Cause of S.C.
This story was originally published September 10, 2014 at 9:04 PM with the headline "Reaction to charges against SC Speaker of the House Bobby Harrell."