"Gov.'s commission suggests 'clean, honest' ethics plan"

Nexsen Pruet attorney Susi McWilliams served on the South Carolina Commission on Ethics which presented its plan on Monday, January 28 in Columbia.

South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley announced the creation of the panel in October.

The State newspaper's Andrew Shain reported on the panel's findings in an article entitled "Gov.'s commission suggests 'clean, honest' ethics plan."

An excerpt: 

The commission and three legislative committees are looking at ways to strengthen SC ethics laws after high-profile cases last year. Those cases included the House Ethics Committee twice clearing Haley of charges that the Lexington Republican used her office for personal gain while a state representative and the resignation of Lt. Gov. Ken Ard, who entered a guilty plea to charges of misusing campaign contributions.

Operation Lost Trust, a bribery scandal that rocked South Carolina two decades ago, was invoked during commission hearings, but members said the latest incidents are not as severe.

“But reform may prevent us from having another one,” said Susi McWilliams, a former chairwoman of the SC Ethics Commission and member of the governor’s commission. “That’s the goal.”

Read more from The State.

Watch the news conference where the panel delivered its final report.