Suspended House Speaker Bobby Harrell is expected to make his first court appearance this morning since his Sept. 10 indictment on charges that he used campaign funds for personal expenses and concealed unlawful campaign payments.
Harrell, R-Charleston, is scheduled to have a bond hearing at 9 a.m. before Circuit Judge John Hayes in the Richland County courthouse. First Circuit Solicitor David Pascoe of Orangeburg is the assigned prosecutor in the case.
The Nerve will update this story after the hearing.
A Richland County grand jury indicted Harrell, who became the House speaker in 2005 and was first elected to the House in 1992, on six counts of use of campaign funds for personal expenses, two counts of misconduct in office and one count of false reporting under the state Ethics Act.
The most serious charge is common law misconduct in office, which carries a maximum 10-year prison sentence. The other charges carry maximum one-year prison sentences.
Harrell has publicly denied breaking any state laws.