South Carolina’s Beaufort County Hit with 4 Subpoenas from State Grand Jury
Heads up folks, it seems that Beaufort County in South Carolina, has landed in hot soup with a state grand jury pulling them up for some serious questioning. The county is facing a series of subpoenas that have been released demanding all the ins and outs of their financial records, and moreover, they are looking into potential misconduct with contracts, possible flaws in purchasing, and procurement.
County Spokesperson Speaks Out
To cut through the rumors, Beaufort County spokesperson, Hannah Nichols came forward and confirmed that the county did indeed get four grand jury subpoenas from the state and assured everyone that “the county is cooperating fully” and that they will definitely follow through with the orders to hand over all the requested documentation.
The subpoenas that were sent are specifically demanding to see some particular documents. This includes financial details related to purchasing cards that the county’s employees have used for their expenses, spending records of former Beaufort County Administrator Eric Greenway, and last but not least, a contract for construction that was taken up at a playground in Port Royal, that aims to be inclusive.
Some Smoky Whiffs Coming Off the Records
During an audit done by the law firm Haynesworth Sinkler Boyd out of Greenville, it was found that Eric Greenway, the former county admin, might not have been playing it straight. His spending records had some serious “flagrant violations” of the county’s procurement code.
This audit result came out in early Spring 2024. But, hold your horses, the result was only made accessible to the law enforcement guys on Aug. 26, that too after multiple requests from people and the media.
Leaky Taps in Port Royal Park’s Construction
We further found that the play park in Port Royal, named as Bruce Edgerly Park, is not totally in the clear. The equipment for the park was bought and installed without going through the proper channels and getting the council’s approval, which is a direct violation of Beaufort County’s procurement code.
And if that wasn’t enough, it appears Nix Construction, who were the sole bidders for the park’s bathroom project, and charged the county almost $350,000, pushing the project’s total cost to over $1 million.
Looking Forward for More Transparency and Accountability
Duffie Stone, the Circuit Solicitor of the 14th, sent a letter last November 2023 to Attorney General Alan Wilson requesting him to form a state grand jury for the investigation. Stone mentioned the need for grand juries, especially in cases of public corruption, because they have the authority to compel testimony and subpoena documents.
Beaufort County Council Members on August 26 decided to waive their attorney-client privilege and release the report to law enforcement for review. Despite some debate and a vote, it did seem a little shocking to Stone that there was even a question of whether to cooperate with an ongoing investigation.
With this, it’s clear that this investigation has only just begun. Beaufort residents are advised to stay alert and follow local news for updates on this matter.
