The Palmetto Public Record reports that SC Lieutenant Governor Ken Ard may have committed an ethics violation today when he endorsed Newt Gingrich by using taxpayer-funded resources to announce the endorsement. Ard has a history of ethics scandals — like, ironically, the man he endorsed. From the Palmetto Public Record:
Ard sent out his endorsement on Tuesday through his taxpayer-funded spokesperson using official letterhead. According to Section 8-13-1346 of the Ethics Reform Act, “A person may not use or authorize the use of public funds, property, or time to influence the outcome of an election.”
If Ard or his spokesperson, Julia Foster, violated the act by using taxpayer resources to endorse Gingrich, it would be the latest in a series of potential ethics violations by the lieutenant governor related to political campaigns. About a year ago he was accused of spending campaign funds on personal items such as gifts and football tickets, telling the Free Times’ Corey Hutchins he was simply trying to recoup as much of the money he put into his campaign as possible.
Additionally, a state grand jury is investigating more serious allegations that Ard may have used the names of friends and family to pad his campaign donations list. So far there’s no word on when the results of that investigation will be made public.
Neither Ard’s office nor the State Ethics Commission have responded to requests for comment on Ard’s endorsement. If and when they do, Palmetto Public Record will bring you updates as soon as they become available.
