Panel discussion and book signing for Operation Lost Trust
October 5, 2016
On Thursday October 13, 6-8 pm, as part of its Wine and Unwind program, the Lourie Center will host John Crangle and several colleagues, Bart Daniel, Rep. Candy Waites, Andy Shain, and Jack Kuenzie, for a panel discussion and book signing.
John Crangle, of Common Cause/South Carolina, is the author of a recently published book Operation Lost Trust and the Ethics Reform Movement. Crangle will lead-off the evening with a presentation and discussion of the major events of the FBI sting and criminal prosecutions as well as the writing and passage of the 1991 Ethics Act.
The panel will consist of individuals who were peripheral to the events outlined in the book, during the period from 1989 to 2001:
Bart Daniel will discuss his work as U.S. Attorney for South Carolina in administering the sting operation and the multiple criminal prosecutions which resulted from it.
Rep. Candy Waites will discuss her struggles both before and during Operation Lost Trust to try and reform South Carolina’s 1975 Ethics Act and to control campaign financing, lobbying, and abuse of public office. Waites served as a member of the conference committee which wrote the final draft of the 1991 Ethics Act.
Andy Shain, now editor of The Free Times, will discuss his experiences as a young reporter covering Lost Trust, including being jailed twice for failing to testify in U.S. District Court when called by the prosecution.
Jack Kuenzie will describe his work as a reporter for WIS-TV News in covering the trials and sentencing of 28 defendants as well as the struggle at the State House to reform the state’s weak ethics laws.
Operation Lost Trust was the largest and worst public corruption scandal in the history of South Carolina. Using a sting operation conducted by U.S. Attorney Bart Daniel and the FBI prosecuted and convicted 28 defendants of federal crimes, including 17 legislators, two executive branch officials, and 6 lobbyists. Those convicted were prosecuted for such crimes as racketeering, bribery, extortion, criminal conspiracy, and narcotics.
The scandal stimulated an ethics reform movement inside and outside of the General Assembly led by Columbia Rep. Candy Y. Waites and John Crangle of Common Cause/South Carolina. The reformers worked with key legislators to pass the 1991 Ethics Act which limited campaign contributions and banned lobbyists from giving gratuities to public officials.
Questions and comments from the audience are welcome. A book signing with John Crangle will follow the panel discussion. Refreshments will be available. The event is free and open to the public.
