Senators Reprimand Cleary, Order Him to Pay Nearly $125K

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COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) – Retiring Sen. Ray Cleary must pay nearly $125,000 for violating state ethics laws by improperly reporting campaign expenses, donations and refunds.

The Senate Ethics Committee on Monday publicly reprimanded Cleary and ordered him to pay a $41,900 fine. He must also return $48,000 to his campaign account, reimburse the committee $27,400, and donate $7,500 to a children’s charity.

Cleary says he’s being punished for technical violations but nothing fraudulent. The Murrells Inlet Republican insists he never used a penny of campaign donations for personal expenses. The 68-year-old dentist says he delegated the filing of quarterly online reports amid his busy schedule but realizes that was his responsibility.

Cleary has been in the Senate since 2005. The violations stem from his 2013 through 2015 campaign reports.