SLED Investigating State Senate Candidate

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) _ State police are investigating allegations a state Senate candidate started an “inappropriate relationship” in 1993 with a then-16-year-old female student _ a claim the Democrats’ supporters call politically motivated.

State Law Enforcement Division spokesman Thom Berry confirms it’s investigating Mike Fanning of Great Falls at the request of the Hampton County Sheriff’s Office, where Fanning’s former student filed the complaint Sept. 29.

Fanning did not respond to a request for comment.

But Democratic Sen. Gerald Malloy, an attorney, says Fanning “categorically denies the allegations.” Malloy calls it “opportunistic politics,” as the accusations cannot be resolved before the election.

The now-40-year-old woman told The Associated Press on Thursday she thinks the public should know.

Fanning defeated Winnsboro Sen. Creighton Coleman in the primary. He faces Republican Mark Palmer on Nov. 8.