David Pascoe and the Statehouse Corruption Probe: A Landmark Fight for Integrity in South Carolina

When David Pascoe led the Statehouse Corruption Probe, he did what few were willing to do: take on the most powerful political figures in South Carolina. The investigation, which exposed deep-rooted corruption inside the General Assembly, resulted in the convictions of the Speaker of the House, the President Pro Tem of the Senate, two former Majority Leaders, and the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.

It was one of the most sweeping corruption cases in modern South Carolina history, and Pascoe led it from start to finish. The probe revealed how some legislators used their public positions to enrich themselves and their associates, operating with little oversight under weak state ethics laws. Despite intense political pressure and attempts to derail his work, Pascoe pressed forward, securing accountability at the highest levels of government.

Pascoe later released a State Grand Jury Report that called for stronger ethics laws, greater transparency, and real structural reform. Yet, the legislature ignored those recommendations, failing to pass even a single bill to close the loopholes exposed by the probe. For Pascoe, that inaction was proof that the system in Columbia is designed to protect itself.

“When you take on corruption in Columbia, you’re not just going after individuals, you’re going after an entire culture,” Pascoe has said.

Now, as he campaigns for Attorney General, Pascoe says he’s ready to finish what he started by creating a Public Corruption Unit inside the Attorney General’s Office to permanently root out misconduct at every level of government.