SLED chief signs grand jury request for Lt Gov Ard

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina’s top law enforcement officer has signed off on a grand jury review of Lt. Gov. Ken Ard’s ethics case.

Attorney General Alan Wilson’s spokesman said Monday that State Law Enforcement Division Chief Mark Keel has signed a petition referring the case to a grand jury. Wilson spokesman Mark Plowden said the petition was then sent to a judge overseeing the grand jury.

Plowden said that step prevents him from discussing the case further.

Ard last month paid a $48,000 fine to the Ethics Commission on 107 civil counts of breaking state campaign finance laws by using campaign cash for personal expenses including a family vacation and football tickets.

Wilson then formed a task force to review Ard’s case and last week said the grand jury should review it.