'No one is above the law:' Lawmakers react as SC Sen. Courson resigns, pleads guilty

Veteran state Sen. John Courson, R-Richland, on Monday became the fourth Republican lawmaker to resign and plead guilty to charges stemming from a State House corruption probe.

Courson pleaded guilty to one count of misconduct in office and agreed to cooperate with that ongoing investigation, headed by special prosecutor David Pascoe.

The former Senate president pro tempore and chair of the Senate Education Committee could face a 10-year prison sentence.

Here is how some of Courson's colleagues reacted Monday:

▪ Gov. Henry McMaster. "The governor has said from the beginning of these 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 spokesman Brian Symmes. "One of those investigations ended today, and that is important for the rule of law and for South Carolina."

▪ Senate President Pro Tempore Hugh Leatherman, R-Florence. "I am truly sorry for Sen. Courson, his family and the Senate, and will always think of him as a friend and colleague. However, his guilty plea clearly shows that he violated our citizen’s trust and therefore should no longer be in office.

“There are important issues directly affecting the residents of District 20, and they deserve to have their voices heard at the State House. I look forward to serving with their chosen senator.”

▪ S.C. Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, R-Edgefield. "The public should have confidence that no one is above the law, and that elected officials ... will be held accountable for wrongdoing. Today is further proof that the system worked. For the people in Richland and Lexington counties, who have gone a period of time without representation ... they will now have a new senator before the legislative session begins in January.

"All of us understand that we have to be accountable for our actions. ... (T)he Senate will continue to work for South Carolina."

▪ State Sen. Brad Hutto, D-Orangeburg. "Senator Courson has not only served the Senate well over time, he served his country as a Marine. It's sort of a sad, sad day I'm sure for him and his family. I don't know the details ... but he obviously thought that this (pleading guilty and resigning) was in his best interest and the right thing to do.

"The Senate, the people of his district will look toward the future. Our thoughts are with the senator and his family under these trying times."

▪ State Sen. Katrina Shealy, R-Lexington. "Of course, I'm sad for Sen. Courson and his family. I'm sorry it had to come to this. I'm sorry it took so long for it to come to this. For the Senate, it means we can move forward. It's (the Senate) kind of been in limbo for the last two years. Committees have been in limbo. We've had committee chairmen serving in two positions. ... This will give us the opportunity to move forward. That's the only positive to come out. It gives the people of the district an opportunity to move forward and have a representative. That's the positive."

▪ State Sen. Mike Fanning, D-Fairfield. "This is a sad day for South Carolina and for the South Carolina Senate. Sen John Courson is one of the best human beings ever to serve, and yet his mistakes have allowed a cloud to form over our body. ... When that happens, it's just not one person that takes the hit. It's the body as a whole.

"If I'm a citizen of South Carolina, this is one more reason that I have to lose trust that my government is down there working for me. As a senator, I have to work even harder to make sure folks know there are folks here working for them."

This story was originally published June 4, 2018 at 12:23 PM with the headline "'No one is above the law:' Lawmakers react as SC Sen. Courson resigns, pleads guilty."