COLUMBIA
A heavily edited version released Monday of an FBI document used
to seize records in an investigation into possible election fraud
sheds little additional light on the case.
The FBI is in the early stages of a probe, led by the Justice
Department’s Public Integrity section, of allegations that companies
with ties to the Catawba Indian Nation may have violated federal
campaign contributions laws. The allegations include possible
“straw” contributions made by one contributor in the name of
another.
Among the few new disclosures is that the Washington, D.C.-based
FBI agent who led an Aug. 31 search of New River Management &
Development, SPM (formerly Southern Property Management) and Kapp
Investments in Columbia specializes in cases of public corruption
and fraud against the government.
Nearly half of agent Amylynn Miller’s 17-page affidavit,
described as a “road map” to the investigation, was entirely
withheld from public disclosure by U.S. Magistrate Judge Bristow
Marchant.
MYRTLE BEACH
• Horry could zone land for
Hard Rock park
Developers say construction may begin on a Hard Rock theme park
at Fantasy Harbour early next year if Horry County gives final
approval to rezoning the land during a meeting in Conway today.
The County Council vote is critical for Orlando-based HRP
Management Corp., which says approval would be a “vote of confidence
from the community” needed to square away private financing of the
$250 million to $300 million rock ’n’ roll park.
“The reason that we need this vote is to be able to demonstrate
... to the financing market that zoning is not an issue,” CEO Steven
Goodwin said.
The park — the first in the world to use the Hard Rock brand name
— would turn a desolate 160-acre plot off U.S. 501 and the
Intracoastal Waterway into a regional attraction based on family
entertainment and music. HRP has worked over the past two years with
residents near the site, neighboring businesses and County Council
to explain plans and allay concerns about park noise and
traffic.
It is unclear whether the long anticipated third and final
council vote will occur in part because 20 months has passed since
the last vote in favor of rezoning a patchwork of commercial and
amusement zoned properties to a uniform planned development
district.
ROCK HILL
• Attorney to take police Taser
case
One of South Carolina’s most famous defense attorneys has signed
on to help the defense in the case of a 75-year-old woman stunned
with a Taser gun by Rock Hill police.
Jack Swerling, who will join attorney Chris Wellborn, says he
doesn’t understand why any officer would stun a woman that old with
a Taser gun.
Margaret Kimbrell was charged with trespassing and resisting
police after officers said she refused to leave a Rock Hill assisted
living center after being asked to leave in October.
Officer Hattie Jean Macon said she used her stun gun after
Kimbrell either swung her arm or her purse at her. She received a
verbal warning from her supervisor and was required to attend a
Taser retraining course.
Contributing: Clif LeBlanc and The Associated Press
