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Ethics Commission order reveals new details about Scout Motors project

By RICK BRUNDRETT The $1 billion subsidy to Scout Motors is about $300 million to $500 million more than what states normally would have to offer in grants for comparable projects, The Nerve found in a review of a newly released State Ethics Commission order. After learning in late January...

Rick Brundrett

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October 01, 2024

  • Ethics Commission order reveals new details about Scout Motors project

    By RICK BRUNDRETT The $1 billion subsidy to Scout Motors is about $300 million to $500 million more than what states normally would have to offer in grants for comparable projects, The Nerve found in a review of a newly released State Ethics Commission order. After learning in late January...
    Rick Brundrett

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    October 01, 2024

  • Low bidders bypassed for state contract to probe mystery $1.8B

    By RICK BRUNDRETT A global consulting firm hired by the state to investigate the mystery $1.8 billion and related financial questions was not the low bidder for the “potential” $3 million contract, records obtained by The Nerve show. But under state law, procurement officials don’t have to accept the lowest...
    Rick Brundrett

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    September 19, 2024

  • Senators won't let go of magistrate control

    By RICK BRUNDRETT S.C. senators this year apparently had no interest in legislation to end the longstanding practice of allowing county magistrates to serve months or even years after their terms expired. There's probably good reason for their lack of enthusiasm: Senators largely control who becomes a magistrate and how...
    Rick Brundrett

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    August 28, 2024

  • True reform? S.C. justices say they won't investigate each other

    By RICK BRUNDRETT South Carolina’s top court has decided to remove itself from investigations of ethics complaints against sitting justices. But for now, members of the Supreme Court – whose six-figure salaries are paid by S.C. taxpayers – can still discipline a wayward fellow justice even with the creation of...
    Rick Brundrett

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    August 18, 2024

  • $1.8B mystery could cost SC taxpayers millions to solve

    By RICK BRUNDRETT The S.C. taxpayer tab for outside attorneys and accountants hired in connection with investigations into the mystery $1.8 billion could run up to more than $5 million, records show. And so far, no state agencies are claiming their share of the $1.8 billion, while a state task...
    Rick Brundrett

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    July 30, 2024

  • Mystery $1.8B task force advised by firm with Trump ties

    By RICK BRUNDRETT Update 7/3/24: Four days after we published this story on a global law firm with experience in federal securities investigations that has advised a state task force on the mystery $1.8 billion, the state issued a formal request for proposals – due by July 9 – to...
    Rick Brundrett

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    June 20, 2024

  • Governor's secret task force still mum on mystery $1.8B

    By RICK BRUNDRETT A task force created by Gov. Henry McMaster to investigate a mysterious $1.8 billion that reportedly is in a state account has met secretly at least six times in less than two months but hasn’t yet publicly released any specific findings. As The Nerve revealed last month,...
    Rick Brundrett

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    June 04, 2024

  • The multibillion-dollar state surplus that keeps growing

    Editor’s note: This is the first investigative story in a two-part package on massive state financial accounts. The other story can be found here. By RICK BRUNDRETT S.C. lawmakers don’t talk much publicly about this part of the state’s coffers, though it’s a huge chunk of money. Known as “other”...
    Rick Brundrett

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    May 20, 2024

  • Secret meetings of governor's task force end run around state law?

    Editor’s note: This is the second investigative story in a two-part package on massive state financial accounts. The other story can be found here. By RICK BRUNDRETT A task force created last month by Gov. Henry McMaster to investigate a reportedly unclaimed $1.8 billion in a state account has met...
    Rick Brundrett

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    May 20, 2024

  • SCPC, SCPIF dispute Commerce's spin on Scout ethics complaint

    May 16, 2024 MEDIA RELEASE The following is a joint statement issued by the South Carolina Policy Council and South Carolina Public Interest Foundation in response to a recent opinion column submitted by S.C. Commerce Secretary Harry Lightsey to at least two news outlets in the state:
    Rick Brundrett

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    May 16, 2024