South Carolina Rep. Rick Quinn Jr. Admits Corruption And Resigns

COLUMBIA, SC — South Carolina Rep. Rick Quinn Jr., who prosecutors said, unlawfully took $4 million in unreported money from lobbyists, pleaded guilty to corruption on Wednesday and now faces up to a year in prison. Prosecutors agreed to drop a second charge and said they'll eek prison time for Quinn, 52, who was once the state House Majority leader.

Quinn resigned an hour before the hearing. He called his 21 years in the South Carolina House "one of the greatest honors of my life" in a letter to House Speaker Jay Lucas.

Quinn is the third Republican lawmaker to opt for a guilty plea in the sweeping investigation. Former House Majority Leader Jim Merrill and former House Speaker Bobby Harrell both were sentenced to probation.

The probe began with Attorney General Alan Wilson investigating Harrell, and it probably would've ended there had Wilson not excused himself from the case over a conflict of interest. Wilson said Quinn's father is his political consultant.

Solicitor David Pascoe took over the case, and Wilson tried, unsuccessfully, to have him booted as the probe expanded.

State Sen. John Courson, former House Judiciary Committee chairman Jim Harrison and former state Rep. Tracy Edge still face charges and the investigation remains ongoing. Pascoe ran as a solicitor as a Democrat and has denied any charges of partisanship in court, saying he is only going where the evidence takes him.

Prosecutors said they will ask for prison time for the 52-year-old former House Majority leader. Quinn faces up to a year behind bars on a charge of misconduct in office. The other two lawmakers who have pleaded guilty in the investigation have received probation.

"It wasn't about service to the people, it was about service to his pocketbook," Pascoe said.

As part of the deal, Pascoe also agreed to drop corruption charges against Quinn's Republican consultant father Richard Quinn Sr., but he must testify before a grand jury that continues to investigate legislators and others and fully cooperate with the State Law Enforcement Division. Quinn has dozens of high-powered clients in the state, including U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham and Wilson.

The consulting business, First Impressions, is also pleading guilty to not registering as a lobbyist and will pay a fine.

Quinn had called the investigation by Solicitor David Pascoe a "partisan witch hunt" and vowed to fight the charges and clear his name. But the guilty plea came after a trial date was set when Quinn's lawyers failed to get Pascoe tossed off the case. The attorneys had unsuccessfully accused Pascoe's office of mishandling evidence.

By JEFFREY COLLINS, Associated Press

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