Thomas Ravenel, the State Treasurer of South Carolina, has been indicted on federal drug charges:
South Carolina Treasurer Thomas Ravenel, a former real
estate developer and rising political star, was indicted Tuesday on
federal cocaine charges.
The millionaire is accused of buying less than 500
grams of cocaine to share with other people in late 2005, U.S. Attorney
Reggie Lloyd said. Mr. Ravenel, 44, is charged with distribution of
cocaine, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a
fine of up to $1 million.
Mr. Ravenel is also the state chairman for former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s presidential campaign.
Mr. Giuliani’s campaign sent out a prepared statement
saying Mr. Ravenel had stepped down. Giuliani spokesman Elliott Bundy
said he did not know when Mr. Ravenel stepped aside.
The investigation into Mr. Ravenel arose from a drug
case last year in Charleston, Lloyd said. State Law Enforcement
Division Chief Robert Stewart said his agents were aware of the
allegations before Mr. Ravenel was elected in November. The case was
turned over to the FBI on April 1 "when the investigation reached a
certain level," Mr. Stewart said.
South Carolina agents turned the investigation over to
the FBI because Mr. Ravenel is in charge of handling state financial
decisions, Mr. Stewart said.
Half a kilo? But, but, that’s enough to keep the entire Shadow Cabinet going for, well, weeks! Heavy duty stuff, eh?
I doubt very much there’ll be any blow back on the Giuliani campaign although it does make one wonder a little about the State Republican machine. Surely people knew not just that this case was in the works but also that he was distributing cocaine? It’s a long time since I was involved in such stuff but aren’t we talking about 4,000 or so hits here (1/8 th of a gramme being the usual?)…if some wannabe politician is handing out that much nose candy wouldn’t you expect, or at least hope that, those checking candidates running for a political party would pick that up?
Actually, re Giuliani, something for those who look to prediction markets.
As Ravenel was very close to the Republican
presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani, this scandal could
influence the betting odds on Giuliani’s campaign. The British
online betting website
Bet365 has been offering odds
on Rudy Giuliani to win the 2008 Presidential Elections at 4/1,
making him the favorite among the Republican candidates to win.
Although there is no word yet from the oddsmaker, it is most
likely that the Ravenel cocaine scandal would change the odds
negatively for Giuliani.
Anyone who is a member there want to check and see if the odds have moved?
Something from within the State about Ravenel’s background:
Welcome to the machine. Thomas Ravenel, state treasurer and big-time
connected Republican in South Carolina, has been indicted for cocaine
trafficking.
Nevermind that Ravenel has more money than God, and never had to
sell drugs. His family has been in high cotton for the past 200 years.
But he did it, and SLED (State Law Enforcement Division) has been
tailing his ass since 2005, gathering enough information to put him in
federal pound-me-in-the-ass prison.
What does this mean? I would hope it means that the leadership of
the South Carolina GOP is taken to task for letting this shit slide.
For those in the inner circle of the powerful, you know what guys are
doing. To think that top people in the state party didn’t know what was
happening is a joke. But, he was a Ravenel. You have to let it go,
right? Nevermind that other people are going to jail for the same
thing, but he’s a wealthy, white, male, politically powerful Republican.
I can’t think what he could possibly be referring to, politicians not being subject to the same rules as the rest of us. Never happen here, would it?
Here’s how the newspapers reported it:
And a photo:
On Tuesday 26th his father reported that Thomas Ravenel is a cocaine addict:
The father of indicted South Carolina Treasurer Thomas Ravenel says his son has a drug problem and is in "pretty bad shape."
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