FBI investigates 4th Circuit Solicitor's Office
Assistant Solicitor Jay Hodge (Hodge was the 4th Circuit Solicitor before stepping down this term and was replaced by Will Roger) has resigned as the FBI investigates his office. Although details are hazy, it appears that subpoenas have been issued to the 4th Circuit Solicitor's Office and for the financial records of Mercy Ministries, a non profit organization for victims of domestic violence. Hodge and two solicitor's office employees served on Mercy Ministries' board of directors.
Fitsnews is reporting allegations of misappropriations of funds and labor at the 4th Circuit Solicitor's Office, Mercy Ministries, and the 4th Circuit drug court program:
The alleged misappropriation of public funds the subpoenas are said to be investigating stems from Solicitor’s office money (specifically monies from Drug Court and Pre-Trial Intervention programs) and Mercy Ministries money being used to pay for improvements to personal property and rental properties, as well as the co-mingling of public funds with personal bank accounts.Drug Court clients have allegedly done work at the home of the former solicitor and another employee, with one of these providers claiming that they were told to say that any work they did was on state property.
Also being investigated are accusations of forced campaigning during the recent solicitor’s office race.
Specifically, at least one employee is alleged to have been fired from the Fourth Circuit office as a direct result of refusing to campaign, while other employees tell FITS they were “strongly encouraged” to campaign on weekends and during the work week.
They are also reporting that SLED and S.C. Attorney General Henry McMaster were informed of the allegations years ago and refused to investigate.
