Free Republic

COLUMBIA, S.C. A South Carolina Senate candidate vying to unseat a Democratic incumbent was arrested Wednesday on child sex abuse charges. Michael Allan Letts, 56, of Columbia, was arrested by the Richland County Sheriff’s Office and faces charges including second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor between the ages of 11 and 14; second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor under 16; and third-degree criminal sexual conduct, according to the sheriff’s office. Letts is accused of sexually abusing a minor child over the course of seven years. The victim reported the abuse in January when Letts was 55, and he...

COLUMBIA — With a Senate showdown looming over a measure to essentially outlaw abortions in South Carolina, a Democratic lawmaker wants to make sure women who would be forced to bring unwanted pregnancies to term are compensated for them. State Sen. Mia McLeod on Wednesday prefiled legislation arguing that women compelled to give birth against their will are “gestational” surrogates who have a right to be paid for their services. “Clearly the state has indicated it has a vested interest in this issue, so if that is the case, and if we are about to do what would be required...

South Carolina Rep. Mia McLeod (D) wants men who claim they need Viagra or other erectile dysfunction medication to get something straight: the government is going to stick its regulatory nose into your bedroom business. Obviously, this is not just about making it tougher for men who are already having a tough time in bed. McLeod said her legislation regarding male sexuality is meant to give the male-dominated South Carolina Legislature a better idea of the hoops a woman has to jump through before she can get an abortion. "I purposely tried to make it as invasive, as intrusive,...