McMaster Requests SLED Review All Sanford Travel Records in Light of New Revelations

Columbia, S.C. June 30, 2009 - "In light of the governor's disclosure of additional travel today, I have requested that SLED conduct a preliminary review of all Governor Sanford's travel records to determine if any laws have been broken or any state funds misused."

Attorney General's Insurance Fraud Division Releases 2008 Report

Attorney General Henry McMaster has issued the 2008 annual insurance fraud report.

During 2008 the Attorney General’s Insurance Fraud Division secured 135 convictions for insurance fraud, a 44 percent increase over 2007 with 94 convictions. This number represents the most convictions by the Insurance Fraud Division since its creation in 1994.

“With the state of our economy, more and more people in South Carolina are turning toward insurance fraud. They think it’s a quick fix for their personal financial situation and don’t think it affects anyone else,” said Edwin Constant, president of the South Carolina Insurance Fraud Investigators, “In reality it affects everyone in the state.”

Last year there were 815 insurance fraud complaints received by the Insurance Fraud Division, compared to 712 complaints received in 2007. The total amount of insurance fraud reported was more than $3.3 million, a drop from the previous year with $8.4 million.

Nearly $400,000 in fines and restitution were ordered paid by the courts. This brings the total to nearly $78 million in insurance fraud reported and nearly $6 million in monies collected since the South Carolina Attorney General's Insurance Fraud Division began prosecuting insurance fraud cases in 1995.

Highlights from the Attorney General’s 2008 Insurance Fraud Report:

• The greatest number of complaints were due to automobile insurance fraud (57%) and personal/commercial property fraud (12%) followed by workers’ compensation fraud (11%) and health/medical fraud (10%).
• Cases have come from all around the state of South Carolina and break down by region as follows:

◦ Low Country – 37% (175)
◦ Pee Dee – 22% (106)
◦ Piedmont – 22% (103)
◦ Midlands - 19% (88)

• Charleston County reported both the highest number of complaints made (29) and the highest total amount of insurance fraud reported with $ 921,756.49 reported in insurance fraud.


The Insurance Fraud Division currently has five attorneys and four South Carolina Law Enforcement Division investigators working to stomp out insurance fraud in South Carolina.

The South Carolina Insurance Fraud Hotline, 1-888-95-FRAUD, is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for reporting insurance fraud, which can be a felony in South Carolina. All reports remain confidential.

For a complete copy of the 2008 Annual Report from the Office of the Attorney General's Insurance Fraud Division or to review county data, link to the South Carolina Insurance News Service at www.scinsurance.net.

McMaster Appears on Local and National TV

Attorney General Henry McMaster has made numerous recent appearances on local and national television to discuss the Stimulus Lawsuit and the ongoing Craigslist prostitution controversy. Below are video links to some of those appearances on The Today Show (NBC), CNBC, WCSC Charleston and WIS Columbia:


The Today Show, May 21, 2009: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=241vNmI-5QU

CNBC, May 21, 2009: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPlGCVVdJtk

WCSC Charleston, May 21, 2009: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnVCDHU228E

WIS Columbia, May 20, 2009: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vfxy_PSpQuA

SC AG threatens Craigslist with prosecution

By Meg Kinnard, The Associated Press
Tuesday, May 5, 2009

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- South Carolina's top prosecutor on Tuesday called on the chief executive of popular online site Craigslist to take down ads related to prostitution and pornography or face prosecution himself.

"Many of the classified and communication services on the Craigslist site provide the public with a valuable service," Attorney General Henry McMaster wrote in a letter to company CEO Jim Buckmaster. "However, it appears that the management of Craigslist has knowingly allowed the site to be used for illegal and unlawful activity after warnings from law enforcement officials and after an agreement with 40 state attorneys general."

McMaster was referencing an agreement he and attorneys general from dozens of other states entered into with Craigslist last year to improve the site's safeguards. In that document, Craigslist agreed to several safeguards, like allowing users to flag pornographic postings they believe violate the Web site's rules.

But McMaster said Tuesday he doesn't think Craigslist has done enough to keep those images, as well as ads for prostitution, off its Web site, giving the company until May 15 to take down sex-related postings from its South Carolina sites. If that deadline isn't met, McMaster said he may prosecute the San Francisco-based company.

McMaster, whose Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force has arrested more than 150 people suspected of soliciting children for sex over the Internet, cited recent national events as his impetus for going after the company.

McMaster has over $1 million in 2010 war chest

Attorney General raised over a quarter million in first quarter of this year

COLUMBIA, S.C. South Carolina Attorney General Henry McMaster will report having over one million dollars in the bank for his 2010 campaign when quarterly disclosure forms are filed this week, his campaign announced today.

“We are very pleased to report the campaign has over one million dollars in the bank and received over a quarter of a million dollars in contributions during the first three months of this year,” said Columbia businessman Bill Stern, a leader on McMaster’s campaign finance team.

According to the preliminary figures, the disclosure will report that McMaster raised over $287,000 during the first quarter of this year (January 1-March 31, 2009). That amount will bring total funds raised to over $1.2 million for the 2010 election cycle, with over $1,024,000 cash on hand.

The full campaign disclosure will be available on the state ethics commission web site later this week at: www.ethics.sc.gov

Take the Money or Lose It

From The Palmetto Scoop

Among the numerous rumors swirling around Columbia tonight is a report that President Barack Obama has told Gov. Mark Sanford that if he does not apply for federal stimulus funds, the money will not be available for South Carolina.

And The Palmetto Scoop has now confirmed that Obama has, in fact, sent Sanford a very blunt, personal letter saying just that.

The correspondence reportedly states that roughly $700 million in discretionary stimulus money allocated for South Carolina will be revoked on Friday if Sanford declines to accept the funds and that, by law, no alternative options can be accepted.

The letter is in line with a nonbinding opinion issued Tuesday by Attorney General Henry McMaster that said Sanford — not state lawmakers — have the final say over whether the state accepts federal stimulus money.

“Under the (stimulus act’s) express provisions, only the Governor (or in other cases, other officials pursuant to the particular terms of the Act) may apply to the Secretary of Education (or other federal agencies) for such funds, based upon the federal criteria for eligibility of such funds,” McMaster wrote. “Federal law bestows upon the Governor, as chief executive of the State, the discretion as to whether to apply for these funds.”

Sanford has requested on numerous occasions that the money be used to pay down debt. Obama has repeatedly denied those requests.

But tonight — with the deadline to accept stimulus funding only 72 hours away — marked the first time that Obama has formally told Sanford that he must either take the money or lose it.

Obama’s letter would explain reports that Sanford has approached the General Assembly with an offer to cut a deal. Sanford has allegedly offered to accept the stimulus money if the legislature diverts state funds to pay off debt.

McMaster Will Travel to Utah

South Carolina Attorney General Henry McMaster will travel to Salt Lake City, Utah this weekend to meet with Governor Jon Huntsman and key Utah economic development leaders to learn more about the Utah's successful effort to avoid the negative impact of the recent economic downturn.

Forbes magazine ranked Utah as one of the top four states in the nation for business and economic development, with billions of dollars in new investment flowing into Utah, while most other states are suffering.

Utah also has a successful record in job creation. Recent figures place Utah’s unemployment rate at 4.6% compared to South Carolina's jobless rate of 10.4%. In addition, Huntsman oversaw a significant revamping of Utah’s tax structure, resulting in over $400 million in tax cuts to taxpayers. McMaster will be briefed on the details of Utah's successful economic development efforts by leaders from the public and private sector.

While McMaster is in Salt Lake City this weekend, Governor Huntsman will also host a fundraising reception for the Attorney General.

McMaster to Address Myrtle Beach GOP Women’s Club

Attorney General Henry McMaster will address the Myrtle Beach Republican Women’s Club on Tuesday, March 10 at 11:30 a.m. The meeting will take place at: Dunes Golf and Ocean Club, 9000 N. Ocean Blvd., Myrtle Beach.

McCain to fundraise for key 2008 supporter

By Reid Wilson
Posted: 02/26/09 04:59 PM [ET]

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) is hitting the fundraising circuit to return the favor to a local Republican who proved a key supporter in the 2008 primaries.

McCain and many of his top advisers will throw a fundraising reception on behalf of Henry McMaster, the South Carolina attorney general who backed McCain during his run for president in 2008.The event's host committee includes McCain loyalists like one-time senior advisors Charlie Black, former campaign manager Rick Davis and former Republican National Committee deputy chairman Frank Donatelli. McCain will make an appearance, a spokeswoman confirmed.

McMaster was one of the few politicians who supported McCain in the Palmetto State last year. The attorney general was along for the ride when McCain edged out ex-Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and ex-Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney to win the primary.

McMaster was the state party chairman in 2000 and did not endorse a candidate for president amidst that year's brutal primary battle that caused a years-long rift between President Bush, who won, and McCain, who placed second.

"Sen. McCain supports Attorney General McMaster. He was a huge supporter in South Carolina," said McCain spokeswoman Brooke Buchanan.

McMaster is exploring a run for governor as Gov. Mark Sanford (R) is term-limited in 2010. He may have to face Rep. Gresham Barrett and Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer in the GOP primary, though none of the three have made their bids official.

McMaster sent the invitation out on stationary that features the South Carolina seal, a common practice, according to Palmetto political watchers, though one that raises eyebrows nonetheless. The South Carolina Ethics Commission told The Hill there is nothing untoward about using the state seal.

Kershaw County Rally to Honor Attorney General McMaster

Attorney General Henry McMaster will be honored for his service to Kershaw County at a BBQ dinner and rally this Friday, Feb. 20th at 6:00 pm. The rally will take place at: KCMC Health Resource Center, 124 Battleship Rd, Camden. The public is invited to attend. There will be a media availability immediately following the rally.

McMaster to Address Myrtle Beach GOP Club

Attorney General Henry McMaster will address the Myrtle Beach Republican Club on Monday, February 16 at 12 noon. The meeting will take place at: Damon’s Oceanfront Restaurant, 2985 S. Ocean Blvd., Myrtle Beach.

McMaster to Address Florence County GOP

Attorney General Henry McMaster will address the Florence County Republican Party on Monday, February 9 at 7:00 pm. The meeting will take place at: Horne’s Restaurant, 831 South Irby Street, Florence, SC 29501.

McMaster to Address Spartanburg GOP

Attorney General Henry McMaster will address the Spartanburg GOP First Monday Club meeting today, February 2 at 12 noon. The meeting will take place at: Yanni’s, 2600 East Main Street, Spartanburg.

Ending parole would mean truth in sentencing

S.C. Attorney General Henry McMaster is a likely candidate for governor in 2010. The popular state official has spent a lot of time talking to Republicans and says a run is likely. In the meantime, he is pushing for what is not only a popular piece of legislation, but one that is practical.

McMaster seeks to reform the state's criminal justice system by abolishing parole for convicted felons. His is not just another get-tough measure, in that it includes important elements regarding alternative sentencing.

McMaster supports bills in both the House and Senate that would end parole for violent crimes, essentially ensuring those convicted would serve at least 85 percent of their sentence -- or 100 percent if they don't behave well behind bars.

The proposal also calls for establishing a "middle court" that would handle nonviolent offenders without sending them to prison, a sensible plan that would curb overcrowding even as the state ensures that violent offenders remain behind bars.

As reported by The Post and Courier, McMaster told Charleston Republicans that middle court, a sort of souped-up probation sentence, would cost only $3,250 per offender per year, much less than the $16,000 it costs to house a prisoner each year.

Since prisoners currently can seek parole after serving only 25 percent or 33 percent of their sentence, McMaster said no one is sure how much time a criminal will remain in jail. And he said some families of victims have made more than 20 trips to Columbia to speak against paroling an offender.

The plan is not about creating unrest in prisons from those who have no incentive to reform. It's about continuing to bring truth to sentencing.

Not allowing someone to be eligible for release at the parole board's discretion would take the guesswork out of the sentencing process, allowing judges, attorneys and victims to "mark their calendars" with a possible date of a criminal's release.

The McMaster plan deserves a close look. Alternatives to jail for some lesser offenders in exchange for truth-in-sentencing for those doing hard time is an approach that would engender support for a judicial system presently seen by the public as handing down too many sentences that mean little in terms of real time served.

A similar bill was put before the Legislature last year. McMaster said the new version has been improved with new ideas and its chances of passing are good.

From The Times and Democrat

McMaster to Address Spartanburg County GOP

Attorney General Henry McMaster will address the Spartanburg County GOP meeting at 7p.m. tonight at Country Hearth Inn, 200 International Drive, Spartanburg (at I-26 and Business I-85).

Reward for Dog Fighters

The Humane Society of the United States is working side by side with the S.C. Attorney General, Henry McMaster to offer up to a $5000 dollar reward for the information leading to the arrest and conviction of a dogfighter.

If you suspect dogfighting in your neighborhood, call one of the numbers below.
YOUR IDENTITY WILL BE PROTECTED.
For more details about the reward program, call: HSUS at 202-452-1100 or the S.C. Attorney General's office at 803-734-3970. You can also call the new Crimestoppers statewide hotline at 888-CRIME-SC (888-274-6372).

McMaster to Speak to Charleston County GOP

Attorney General Henry McMaster will address the Charleston County GOP meeting tonight, January 12, at 7 pm, North Charleston City Hall Council Chambers, 4900 Lacross Road, North Charleston, SC 29406.

McMaster to Hold Fundraiser with Andy Card

Attorney General Henry McMaster will hold a fundraiser in conjunction with the fall meeting of the Republican Attorneys General Association with special guest former White House Chief of Staff The Honorable Andrew H. Card. The event will take place in Charleston at the restaurant Mercato on Sunday, November 9, 2008 at 9 p.m.

McMaster Heads to RNC

Henry McMaster will be heading off to Minneapolis for the Republican National Convention this Thursday. McMaster along with Roxanne Wilson, wife of Congressman Joe Wilson, will be representing SC on the RNC Rules Committee before the convention starts. This meeting is critical to ensure that South Carolina remains the "First in the South" primary. McMaster will then serve as the Chief Sergeant at Arms for the convention.