Richland senator accused of threatening county employee's job in profanity-laced rant [View all]

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- When state Sen. Dick Harpootlian saw that the annual press release advertising open spots on Richland County boards had mysteriously left out four controversial openings at the Columbia Metropolitan Airport, he had one question:

“What the f--- is going on?”

But the Columbia Democrat’s decision to confront the county employee responsible and ask that exact question has led to a letter accusing Harpootlian of threatening that employee’s job in a profanity-laced tirade.

Harpootlian’s impromptu meeting last Friday with James C. Brown, a top aide to Richland County’s legislative delegation, has stirred up controversy yet again among Richland County lawmakers who are divided over the freshman senator’s slash-and-burn campaign against a government he perceives as broken.

“That is no way to treat anyone, much less someone that works for you,” said House Minority Leader Todd Rutherford, a Columbia Democrat who has periodically quarreled with Harpootlian. “It is beneath the dignity of being a South Carolina senator, and he owes them an apology.”

Read more: https://www.thestate.com/news/politics-government/article237756859.html