Rep. Jim Merrill indicted in S.C. Statehouse probe; suspended from office
COLUMBIA — State Rep. Jim Merrill was indicted by a grand jury Wednesday on 30 counts of ethics violations alleging the Charleston lawmaker or his company pocketed more than $1 million by soliciting or accepting cash from groups with Statehouse legislation at stake.
Sources believe Merrill’s indictment could well be just the beginning of actions resulting from a Statehouse corruption probe that's been evolving for nearly three years. More indictments remain a distinct possibility, sources said.
Repeated attempts to reach Merrill, a Republican who lives on Daniel Island, were not successful. The indictments accuse the 49-year-old of skirting state laws almost from the time he took office in 2001.
The Post and Courier first raised questions about Merrill's dealings in a 2012 story that touched on some of the very issues outlined in the indictments. Merrill also figured prominently in "Capitol Gains," a series the newspaper produced last year with the Center for Public Integrity exploring South Carolina’s loophole-ridden campaign finance system that allows state lawmakers to use their campaign war chests like personal ATM machines.
Read more: http://www.postandcourier.com/politics/rep-jim-merrill-indicted-in-s-c-statehouse-probe-suspended/article_fb72da58-c236-11e6-b694-bfc5d6df8e2d.html