In what the South Carolina attorney general called an “unprecedented” investigation, Lt. Gov. Ken Ard was indicted on ethics charges over an alleged scheme to fake campaign donations while using thousands of dollars in campaign money for personal shopping and vacations. Ard resigned Friday prior to the announcement of the indictment, which alleges he funneled his own money to others before they “donated” it back to his campaign—while he also made up identities of “donors.” Ard had previously been fined for using 2010 campaign funds to buy personal items at a Best Buy. He also gave a reported $75,000 to individuals that was later looped back to his campaign, making it appear as though it wasn’t self-funded. State Sen. Glenn McConnell announced that he would become Gov. Nikki Haley’s new lieutenant.
