Columbia, SC (AP) — Jury selection this morning in the trial of former Columbia Rep. James Harrison cleared the way for the public corruption trial to get underway Monday afternoon.
The former chairman of the House Judiciary Committee was indicted last year on two counts of misconduct in office, two counts of perjury, and one count of criminal conspiracy.
Jurors selected Monday included 2 white women, 5 women of color, 3 white males and one African American male. Alternates include one white female, one African American female and male.
Among possible witnesses to be called in Harrison's trial are former political consultant Richard Quinn Sr., former Rep. Richard Quinn Jr., former Columbia Senator John Courson, former Lexington Senator Jake Knotts and Representative Todd Rutherford, according to Judge Carmen Mullens, who is presiding over the trial.
The trial, which is expected to last about week, got underway Monday afternoon at the Richland County Courthouse.
In opening remarks, defense attorney Reggie Lloyd told jurors that prosecutors are “making the crime fit the man” and that his client, Jim Harrison, is not guilty of corruption.
Jeremy Smith, lead SLED investigator, was the first witness called by First Circuit Solicitor David Pascoe, the special prosecutor leading the public corruption probe.
Pascoe's strategy is to layout a timeline from 1999 to 2012 that shows Harrison was accepting money from Richard Quinn & Associates (RQA), a political consulting and public relations firm, while serving in the Legislature. According to Pascoe, records introduced in court show that on his Statement of Economic Interest forms filed with the SC Ethics Commission from 1999 to October 2010, Harrison listed his occupation as a full time attorney when in fact he was also a paid employee of RQA. As an employee, Harrison was paid a salary of $80,000 per year.
Then, from Oct. 1, 2010, to Nov. 6, 2012, when he left office, Harrison was paid $2,000 per month on retainment.
Smith read into testimony a statement Harrison made to SLED investigators in 2017 that he (Harrison) "had no misgivings" about working in the Legislature while being paid by RQA. During this period, RQA did business representing groups such as Blue Cross/Blue Shield, the SC Trial Lawyers Association, SCANA, the SC Ports Authority, BellSouth, AT&T, among others.
The trial will resume Tuesday morning with Lloyd cross examining Smith.
Harrison was one of five people charged in the corruption probe last year. He left office after deciding not to seek re-election in 2012.
Four former lawmakers have pleaded guilty in the case. They include former House Speaker Bobby Harrell of Charleston, former Majority Leader Jim Merrill of Daniel Island, former Rep. Richard Quinn Jr. of Lexington and former Columbia Senator John Courson.