Condon probe pushed

Democratic attorney general opponent Turnipseed is not satisfied with some recent investigations

Web posted August 7, 1998

By Chasiti Kirkland
South Carolina Bureau

AIKEN -- The state Ethics Commission is taking a preliminary look at Gov. David Beasley's free travel on corporate jets. But the inquiry doesn't satisfy Democrats such as Tom Turnipseed, who is seeking the post of South Carolina attorney general.

And Thursday, during a brief stump in Aiken, the former state senator issued another challenge to his political opponent, Attorney General Charlie Condon.

``I demand that Mr. Condon bring forth his travel expenses as well,'' he said.

Phone calls to Mr. Condon and other Republican Party officials weren't immediately returned Thursday.

Like state Democratic Party Chairman Dick Harpootlian, Mr. Turnipseed is pushing for a state grand jury probe of Mr. Beasley's trips, which he says is unlikely.

If Mr. Condon doesn't use his political clout to keep the governor in check, Mr. Turnipseed threatened, he will take the case to the grand jury himself.

``I have always maintained that big money is the most corrupting, crippling and cynical element of politics in America,'' said Mr. Turnipseed, who is researching laws in Vermont and Kentucky, which place restrictions on campaign donations and spending.

Vermont limits the amount an incumbent can raise and spend to 85 percent of what a challenger can raise and spend.

``I will voluntarily limit my donations to $1,000 a cycle with no exceptions and challenge Mr. Condon to do likewise,'' Mr. Turnipseed said.

In recent weeks, Mr. Beasley has come under political fire for trips provided on corporate jets from lobbyist employers in his role as a member of the Republican Governors Association. But Mr. Turnipseed is pointing a finger at the attorney general for trips he's taken cross-country negotiating South Carolina's tobacco jackpot.

In the beginning Mr. Condon hired seven private attorneys to fight the tobacco powerhouses. Then he laid them off when it was discovered that he had a contract that could have paid them up to $800 million for their work. And Mr. Turnipseed says Mr. Condon isn't working swiftly enough to reactivate the state's tobacco case. And while he waits for Congress to approve a tobacco settlement, billions of dollars are being funnelled to the citizens of states like Mississippi, Florida and Texas.

``He's really screwed the whole thing up,'' Mr. Turnipseed said.