House Ethics Committee Opens Complaint on Haley

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) – The House Ethics Committee is officially reopening an ethics complaint against South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley. The six-member panel voted unanimously Wednesday evening to re-visit allegations that the first-term Republican governor illegally lobbied for two previous employers while she was a representative for Lexington County. Attorney Butch Bowers reiterated Haley’s arguments that she did not lobby for Lexington Medical Center or engineering firm Wilbur Smith Associates. He repeatedly noted three affidavits Haley’s office turned in last Thursday from officials representing those businesses. Committee members will turn in a list of people they want to testify. Members will vote at their next meeting on who they want to appear before them. A public hearing will be held within 30 days. The vote comes four weeks after the committee dismissed the charges.