(CNN) - An ethics committee in South Carolina on Friday cleared Republican Governor Nikki Haley of ethics violations.
The first term governor was fighting accusations that dated back to her time as a state representative, alleging that she used her state seat to illegally lobby for former employers and to coerce donations for a foundation.
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Clerk for the South Carolina House of Representatives Charles Reid said the 6 member house ethics committee charged with investigating the allegations heard testimony for 12 hours on Thursday, lasting well into the night. Governor Haley testified on her own behalf.
The committee includes five Republicans and one Democrat.
Reid said the committee reconvened Friday morning and deliberated for approximately two hours before reaching its decision to clear Haley on all four charges. He said the decision was unanimous on all counts but one: failing to properly disclose employment. That vote, said Reid was 5 to 1 in favor of Haley. The dissenting member was state Representative Laurie Funderburk, the Democrat.
The committee previously dismissed the matter after an initial investigation in March before reopening them, according to reports from the Charleston Post and Currier.
In a statement released by the Governor's office, Haley said "The Ethics Committee did its job thoroughly, professionally, and well. It's just a shame that our judicial and legislative bodies have had to waste so much of their time on phony political charges that never had any evidence behind them or any basis in fact. Despite these attempts at political distraction, I'm pleased that our administration continues to stay focused on what matters, bringing in record new job announcements, cutting taxes for small businesses and reforming state government."
The past year, Haley has campaigned on behalf of GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney and has been mentioned as a possible vice presidential candidate.
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She has no ethics, no violation.
surprise, surprise did you think her buddies would vote any other way
How about reporting on the ethics investigation around Jesse Jackson Jr. D Ill or Axelrod's ethics conflicts? This was non news.
I am quite convinced anymore that the entire republican coalition from S.C. Is so far over the edge and fanatical that they are all engaged in illegal activities. The republican party as a whole must purge itself of these fanatical extremists, or die a slow death as politically, the nation resides just barely to the conservative side of moderate.
This is the same Governor Nikki Haley who spent over two hundred thousand dollars of her Stats money on a vacation to France !
"The committee includes five Republicans and one Democrat."
OH. THat sounds fair and unbiased. THe same way Fox News is fair and unbiased and the same way Nickey Haley does NOT look like an evil old nag horse. AT ALL.
Give me a break ,they had Five Republican and One Democrats on the panel that going to hear the ethics Charges against the Republican GOV Nikki Haley. Man I could even tell you be for they said anything they was going to clear her of the charges. You could said It was fix. I mean out of six people five are Republican , This was a No brainier.
Why not let a non-partisan committee investigate, or one with a Democrat majority? Because Haley would've been found guilty. The GOP are nothing more than common criminals.
Five Republicans and one Democrat on the committee. No doubt she would be cleared.
She was cleared by five friends, what a state!
What a shocker! Republicans cleared Haley. That's even more shocking that how Roberts voted on Healthcare.
Governor Haley could take a few lessons on ethics from Georgia's Governor, Nathan Deal.
As soon as Deal took office, he cut the budget for the Ethics Board so deep they could barely turn on the lights in the office.
Five Republicans and one Democrat, that's what you call "a balance of power" in 12 hours; 5 Yeas and 1 Nay will always set you free guilty or not.
This was a political sham. I believe Haley is as guilty as sin and the republican machine in this state covered it up. There are many, even in her own party, that are fed up with her gangster like approach to governing. Jimmy Hoffa ain't got nothin' on Nicki Haley. The Carpetbaggers have returned.
Is it true that she used Scott Walker as a character witness? Maybe she used his method of saying everyone should vote and then, "I will count the votes"!!!! Works everytime.