Details Expected Friday on Ethics Charges Against SC Lt. Gov. Ken Ard

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Details Expected Friday on Ethics Charges Against SC Lt. Gov. Ken... (Added: March 17, 2011)

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By: Robert Kittle | WSPA-TV
Published: March 17, 2011

Columbia, SC --

The State Ethics Commission expects to release Friday the "Notice of Hearing" document that will announce the specific details of the 92 ethics charges against South Carolina Lt. Gov. Ken Ard.

The commission announced Wednesday night it found probable cause for 69 charges against Ard for allegedly using campaign money for personal use and 23 charges of failing to report spending. Each charge carries a potential fine of up to $2,000.

Lt. Gov. Ard wouldn't comment on the charges Thursday and referred to his written release, which says, "I will work with the Ethics Commission to resolve any issues they might have. I will cooperate fully with the commission's staff and I look forward to answering their questions. As I've said from the beginning, if I've made any mistakes or errors, I will take full responsibility for them, correct them and move forward."

The charges are focused on Ard's campaign disclosure reports, which show that he spent thousands of dollars of campaign money after the campaign was over.

For example, he spent money on airfare, hotels and meals to go to the SEC Championship football game in Atlanta in December, in which the University of South Carolina played. His lawyer told the commission that Ard only attended the game because he was invited in his capacity as lieutenant governor. State law allows campaign funds to be used on costs that are associated with holding office.

Another spending item questioned by the commission is almost $800 on women's clothing. Ard's lawyer, Butch Bowers, told the commission that was for a dress for Ard's wife to attend the Inaugural Ball, an expense that was directly related to Ard's office.

But state Democratic Party chair Carol Fowler says that's not the intent of the law. "If you can get campaign donors to buy your wife's clothes, that's about one step away from taking a bribe," she says.

After the Ethics Commission releases its notice of hearing, a hearing date will be set. Ard can either sign a consent order before the hearing, agreeing with the charges, or go ahead with the hearing. At the hearing, the commission can either find him guilty of all or some of the charges, or find him not guilty.

There are similar cases nationwide. Christine O'Donnell, who unsuccessfully ran for U.S. Senate from Delaware last year, is currently under federal investigation for allegedly using campaign funds for personal use.

In Tennessee in 2007, former state Sen. Jerry Cooper was fined a state-record $120,000 for personal use of campaign funds.

In 2009, Springfield, Oregon Mayor Sid Leiken was fined $2,250 for converting $2,000 of campaign money for personal use.