Rep. Mitchell’s Ethics Investigation

Spartanburg, SC (The Spartanburg Democrat)- The House Ethics Committee is mulling over Rep. Harold Mitchell’s testimony that he kept shoddy records and didn’t properly pay his bills, but did not use his campaign account for personal benefit.  The Spartanburg Democrat addressed allegations Tuesday that he illegally withdrew cash from his account for years, lacks receipts, paid for non-campaign items, and misreported a loan payment.  Mitchell says only one of the disputed transactions personally benefited him _ $174, which bought medication to treat his gout.  That amount is among the $1,900 his defense acknowledges needs to be reported.   Mitchell says cash withdrawals paid campaign-related bills and went to charities. But Ethics Committee Chairman Kenny Bingham said there’s no documentation to support his explanations for the questionable activity.  The panel issued no ruling Tuesday.