New SC Inspector Gen. Says 9 Investigations Started

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) _ South Carolina’s new inspector general says he has as many as nine investigations started on some of the 22 agencies he can review. Jim Martin was appointed to the job by Gov. Nikki Haley three weeks ago. He says he’ll have two investigators working with him on July 25. The investigators will develop details on the tips and complaints at the heart of the investigations Martin has already opened. Martin won’t say what agencies are being investigated. Martin is the state’s second inspector general in a position that Haley created in March with an executive order. The first appointee left after seven weeks in a dispute over independence for the investigators. Martin said that left him starting the office from scratch.