# David Pascoe
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{{Short description|American politician (born 1967)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = David Pascoe
| image = David Pascoe.jpg
| office = Solicitor for the [First Judicial Circuit of South Carolina](/source/South_Carolina_Circuit_Court)
| term_start = January 2005
| term_end =
| predecessor = [Robby Robbins](/source/Robby_Robbins)
| successor =
| birth_name = David Michael Pascoe
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1967|3|2}}
| birth_place = [Charlottesville](/source/Charlottesville%2C_Virginia), [Virginia](/source/Virginia), U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = [Republican](/source/South_Carolina_Republican_Party) (2025–present)
[Democratic](/source/South_Carolina_Democratic_Party) (before 2025)
| spouse =
| children = 3
| education = [The Citadel](/source/The_Citadel) ([BA](/source/Bachelor_of_Arts))
[University of South Carolina](/source/University_of_South_Carolina) ([JD](/source/Juris_Doctor))
}}
'''David Michael Pascoe''' (born March 2, 1967) is an American lawyer serving as the First Circuit Solicitor in the state of [South Carolina](/source/South_Carolina) since 2005. The First Circuit comprises [Dorchester](/source/Dorchester_County%2C_South_Carolina), [Calhoun](/source/Calhoun_County%2C_South_Carolina), and [Orangeburg](/source/Orangeburg_County%2C_South_Carolina) counties. In 2016, Pascoe won a Supreme Court case against the South Carolina Attorney General where the Attorney General attempted to remove Pascoe as the special prosecutor in a corruption probe involving the General Assembly.[{{Cite news|last=Monk|first=John|date=2016-07-13|title=S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson loses bid to stop Pascoe from investigating the General Assembly|work=The State Newspaper|url=https://www.thestate.com/news/local/crime/article89305172.html}}] Pascoe oversaw the investigation as Acting Attorney General and secured convictions on five powerful [South Carolina General Assembly](/source/South_Carolina_General_Assembly) members that included the House speaker, President Pro Tem of the Senate, Chairman of the House Judiciary, and two former House Majority Leaders.[{{Cite web|last=CRANGLE|first=JOHN V.|title=COMMENTARY: Court should thank Pascoe|url=https://thetandd.com/opinion/columnist/commentary-court-should-thank-pascoe/article_c0cc836e-a5ad-55d2-8af4-9c19ab3ab9c7.html|access-date=2020-07-10|website=The Times and Democrat|date=17 May 2020 |language=en}}]
== Education and early career ==
Pascoe is a ''Magna Cum Laude'' graduate of [The Citadel](/source/The_Citadel) and the [University of South Carolina School of Law](/source/University_of_South_Carolina_School_of_Law).[{{Cite web|last=Kropf|first=Jeremy Borden Schuyler|title=About David Pascoe|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/politics/about-david-pascoe/article_3c0e2163-c114-500e-bd1a-780cd88321f2.html|access-date=2020-07-10|website=Post and Courier|date=9 September 2014 |language=en}}] He served as assistant state prosecutor from 1993 to 2005 successfully trying over 200 violent crimes.[{{Cite news|last=Brundrett|first=Richard|date=2004-11-28|title=Prosecutor Pascoe taking over as 1st Circuit Solicitor|work=The State Newspaper|url=https://www.jackswerling.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/7538/2018/11/017_PASCOE.pdf}}] He earned a reputation as being a hard line prosecutor on violent crimes but progressive in dealing with juvenile offenders and non-violent offenders.[{{Cite news|last=Copeland|first=Larry|date=1995-02-21|title=S.C. City is innovator against juvenile crime parents are held accountable. The Churches have their own program|work=The Philadelphia Inquirer}}]
== Political career ==
=== First Circuit Solicitor ===
Pascoe ran for First Circuit Solicitor as a democrat in 2000, unsuccessfully challenging Republican incumbent [Walter Bailey](/source/Walter_Bailey_(lawyer)). Upon Bailey's retirement, [Robby Robbins](/source/Robby_Robbins) was appointed by Governor [Mark Sanford](/source/Mark_Sanford). Pascoe defeated Robbins in the 2004 general election.[{{Cite news |last=Brundrett |first=Rick |date=November 28, 2004 |title=Prosecutor Pascoe takes over as 1st Circuit Solicitor |url=https://www.jackswerling.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/7538/2018/11/017_PASCOE.pdf |access-date=August 7, 2025 |work=The State Newspaper}}]
After taking office in 2005, Pascoe immediately put a plan together to aggressively combat violent crime in the circuit while at the same time establishing a progressive agenda to curb juvenile crime.[{{Cite web|last=Writer|first=GENE ZALESKI, T&D Staff|title=Pascoe outlines his agenda|url=https://thetandd.com/news/pascoe-outlines-his-agenda/article_20cf17e1-ee3f-5142-838f-f93837cb1635.html|access-date=2020-07-10|website=The Times and Democrat|date=15 December 2004 |language=en}}] He implemented a number of new programs.[{{Cite web|last=Writer|first=RICHARD WALKER, T&D Staff|title=New solicitor takes oath, names his prosecuting team, sets goals|url=https://thetandd.com/news/new-solicitor-takes-oath-names-his-prosecuting-team-sets-goals/article_c08e3b2a-31e1-50c6-aee6-c5d9a93a7f9a.html|access-date=2020-07-10|website=The Times and Democrat|date=12 January 2005 |language=en}}] He recruited churches and organizations to start a Youth Mentor Program.[{{Cite web|title=Youth Mentoring|url=https://scsolicitor1.org/programs/youth-mentoring/|access-date=2020-07-10|website=scsolicitor|language=en-US}}] The First Circuit Solicitor's Youth Mentor Program was recognized by the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice as the 2011 [Diversion Program](/source/Diversion_program) of the Year.[{{Cite web|title=Adult Drug Court|url=https://scsolicitor1.org/programs/adult-drug-court/|access-date=2020-07-10|website=scsolicitor|language=en-US}}] Pascoe continues to garner his reputation as being tough on violent offenders and successfully convicted and received death sentences on two murderers, [Mikal Mahdi](/source/Mikal_Mahdi) and Kenneth Justus.[{{Cite web|last=Writer|first=THOMAS BROWN, T&D Staff|title=A 'malignant heart' — Mahdi sentenced to death in slaying of officer|url=https://thetandd.com/news/a-malignant-heart-mahdi-sentenced-to-death-in-slaying-of-officer/article_9bee6f6a-852b-59e9-ac9f-eed78902369d.html|access-date=2020-07-10|website=The Times and Democrat|date=8 December 2006 |language=en}}][{{Cite web|last=Writer|first=RICHARD WALKER, T&D Staff|title=Death row inmate dies in prison|url=https://thetandd.com/news/death-row-inmate-dies-in-prison/article_01813d3e-c305-11e2-b339-0019bb2963f4.html|access-date=2020-07-10|website=The Times and Democrat|date=22 May 2013 |language=en}}]
Pascoe served as President of the South Carolina Solicitor's Association from 2011 to 2013.
==== Endorsements ====
As a Democrat, Pascoe spoke to numerous GOP groups around the state on issues of criminal justice and judicial reform. He also endorsed several local Republican candidates in the [2024 South Carolina elections](/source/2024_South_Carolina_elections) such as Ninth Circuit Solicitor Scarlett Wilson,[{{Cite web |title=Pascoe Endorses Wilson and Richardson |date=2 October 2024 |url=https://www.postandcourier.com/berkeley-independent/community-news/pascoe-endorses-wilson-richardson/article_9a409c3a-80cd-11ef-82f7-fba4d809d304.html}}] Dorchester County Sheriff candidate Sam Richardson,[{{Cite web |title=Vote JD Chaplin |website=[Facebook](/source/Facebook) |url=https://www.facebook.com/VoteJDChaplin}}] In his endorsement of Chaplin, Pascoe stated, "The two-party system in South Carolina is not Republican versus Democrat, but those who strive to serve the people versus those who aim to serve themselves."[{{Cite web |title=Biden Campaign Press Release - South Carolina First Judicial Circuit Solicitor David Pascoe Endorses Joe Biden |url=https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/biden-campaign-press-release-south-carolina-first-judicial-circuit-solicitor-david-pascoe}}]
=== 2026 South Carolina Attorney General race ===
{{Main|2026 United States attorney general elections}}
On April 10, 2025, Pascoe announced that he was leaving the Democratic Party and joining the Republican Party.[{{cite web | title=David Pascoe Makes It Official: He's a Republican (RINO) Now - FITSNews | date=10 April 2025 | url=https://www.fitsnews.com/2025/04/10/david-pascoe-makes-it-official-hes-a-republican-now/ }}][https://www.thestate.com/news/local/crime/article303924286.html] During that announcement, Pascoe also stated that he was considering a run for the [South Carolina Attorney General](/source/South_Carolina_Attorney_General) seat, which could be vacated if incumbent [Alan Wilson](/source/Alan_Wilson_(politician)) ran for governor in 2026.[{{Cite web |last=Chornobroff |first=Shaun |date=2025-04-11 |title=Solicitor switches from Democrat to Republican, confirms he's considering AG run • SC Daily Gazette |url=https://scdailygazette.com/2025/04/11/solicitor-switches-from-democrat-to-republican-confirms-hes-considering-ag-run/ |access-date=2025-04-12 |website=SC Daily Gazette |language=en-US}}][{{Cite web |date=2025-01-29 |title=South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson eyes 2026 gubernatorial bid |url=https://www.wsoctv.com/news/local/south-carolina-attorney-general-alan-wilson-eyes-2026-gubernatorial-bid/ZKQNY7ULFZCJNGK2VNV3SKBY4U/ |access-date=2025-04-12 |website=WSOC TV |language=en}}]
On June 23, 2025, Wilson launched his gubernatorial campaign.[{{Cite web |last=Holdman |first=Jessica |date=2025-06-23 |title=Two GOP candidates officially enter SC governor's race • SC Daily Gazette |url=https://scdailygazette.com/2025/06/23/two-gop-candidates-officially-enter-sc-governors-race/ |access-date=2025-08-07 |website=SC Daily Gazette |language=en-US}}] Pascoe's fundraising for the state Attorney General seat is reported to have eclipsed the other Republican candidates in the race, as of August 2025 to include Eighth Circuit solicitor David Stumbo and State Representative [Stephen Goldfinch](/source/Stephen_Goldfinch).[{{Cite web |date=2025-08-06 |title=Crossroads 2026: David Pascoe Boasts Impressive Fundraising Haul - FITSNews |url=https://www.fitsnews.com/2025/08/06/crossroads-2026-david-pascoe-boasts-impressive-fundraising-haul/ |access-date=2025-08-07 |language=en-US}}]
== Corruption probe ==
{{see also|South Carolina Statehouse corruption investigation}}
On December 5, 2013, the [South Carolina Law Enforcement Division](/source/South_Carolina_Law_Enforcement_Division) (SLED) submitted an investigative report to the Office of the Attorney General regarding the conduct of South Carolina Speaker of the House of Representatives [Robert "Bobby" Harrell](/source/Bobby_Harrell).[{{Cite web|last=scsolicitor1|date=2020-05-13|title=Unredacted 28th State Grand Jury Report|url=https://scsolicitor1.org/unredacted-28th-state-grand-jury-report/|access-date=2020-07-10|website=scsolicitor|language=en-US}}] A State Grand Jury case was initiated on the basis of the SLED report.[{{Cite news|last=Self|first=Jamie|date=2014-07-09|title=SC Supreme Court: Harrell probe can continue|work=The State Newspaper|url=https://www.thestate.com/news/politics-government/article13867091.html}}] Counsel for Speaker Harrell moved to have Attorney General Alan Wilson recused from the case.[{{Cite news|last=Monk|first=John|date=2014-09-10|title=Prosecutor who indicted Harrell a straight shooter, say Democrat and Republican former bosses|work=The State Newspaper|url=https://www.thestate.com/news/local/crime/article13881752.html}}] Speaker Harrell was removed from office on October 22, 2014, and received a sentence of three years probation after pleading guilty to six counts of misuse of campaign funds.[{{Cite web|last=Borden|first=Jeremy|title=Bobby Harrell pleads guilty to 6 counts, resigns from House seat No details on reimbursements Harrell repaid self from campaign fundsHarrell planning to plead guilty Palmetto Sunrise: Harrell's hearing and looming resignation|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/politics/bobby-harrell-pleads-guilty-to-6-counts-resigns-from-house-seat-no-details-on-reimbursements/article_ce33a8f7-1ebf-5436-acac-cfba517e3979.html|access-date=2020-07-10|website=Post and Courier|date=22 October 2014 |language=en}}]
On October 1, 2014, Pascoe sent an email to Attorney General Wilson referencing the December SLED report and stating that he believed legislators named in the report should be investigated as part of a corruption probe.[Pascoe v. Wilson, 416 S.C. 628, 631, 788 S.E.2d 686, 688 (2016)] Approximately nine months later on July 17, 2015, the Attorney General's Office requested SLED forward the report to Pascoe for a prosecutive decision. In March 2016, Pascoe and SLED Chief Mark Keel referred the case to the State Grand Jury by signing a case initiation form.[{{Cite news|last=Monk|first=John|date=2016-06-16|title=Pascoe: Allowing Wilson to fire him could derail State House Investigation|work=The State Newspaper|url=https://www.thestate.com/news/local/crime/article84119112.html}}] In an unprecedented move, Pascoe filed a petition for declaratory judgement with the [South Carolina Supreme Court](/source/South_Carolina_Supreme_Court) seeking a declaration that the Attorney General recused himself from the case and vested authority in Pascoe to conduct the investigation.[Pascoe v. Wilson, 416 S.C. 628, 645, 788 S.E.2d 686, 695 (2016)] The Court also gave Pascoe the "full authority to act as the Attorney General for purposes of the investigation."[Pascoe v. Wilson, 416 S.C. 628, 644, 788 S.E.2d 686, 695 (2016)]
Pascoe and SLED proceeded to thoroughly investigate two legislators who had served previously as House Majority Leaders, Representatives [James "Jimmy" Merrill](/source/James_H._Merrill) and [Richard "Rick" Quinn Jr.](/source/Rick_Quinn_Jr.)[{{Cite web|last=By|first=Maya T. Prabhu|title=South Carolina judge refuses to remove special prosecutor from Statehouse corruption probe|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/politics/south-carolina-judge-refuses-to-remove-special-prosecutor-from-statehouse-corruption-probe/article_de8ae362-5792-11e7-a5ff-fb84b2e8d8b2.html|access-date=2020-07-10|website=Post and Courier|date=23 June 2017 |language=en}}] These discoveries, as well as other findings and conclusions, were summarized in a comprehensive grand jury report issued by the State Grand Jury on June 21, 2018.[{{Cite news|last=Monk|first=John|date=2017-05-20|title=Pascoe's corruption probe seen as eclipsing SC's Lost Trust scandal of the 1990s|work=The State Newspaper|url=https://www.thestate.com/news/local/crime/article151748232.html}}] The investigation resulted in conviction and removal from office of some of South Carolina's most powerful legislators. It also held corporate entities accountable.[{{Cite web|last=By|first=Glenn Smith|title=SC Statehouse probe prosecutor's acceptance of money during case still sparks outrage|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/news/sc-statehouse-probe-prosecutors-acceptance-of-money-during-case-still-sparks-outrage/article_495d9b3c-94b5-11ea-a6bb-d33357096b5c.html|access-date=2020-07-10|website=Post and Courier|date=13 May 2020 |language=en}}] The business at the center of the investigation is Richard Quinn and Associates and was at one time arguably the most powerful consulting company in the state. Many of the state's most powerful figures were once clients of RQA including Attorney General [Alan Wilson](/source/Alan_Wilson_(politician)).[{{Cite news|last=Monk|first=John|date=2019-05-13|title=Leader of SC's 'Quinndom' to be arraigned Tuesday on perjury charges|work=The State Newspaper|url=https://www.thestate.com/news/local/crime/article230274984.html}}] The corporation pleaded guilty to unlawful lobbying on December 13, 2017, and is believed to be the only conviction recorded for the offense in the state.
In September 2018 Pascoe negotiated agreements with five of the state's most powerful corporations to settle potential criminal liability stemming from their dealings with Richard Quinn and Associates. The agreements, which were referred to as "corporate integrity agreements", were unprecedented in the state, however Pascoe argued that the agreements are a permissible use of his prosecutive authority.[{{Cite web|last=By|first=Andy Shain and Glenn Smith|title=SC Statehouse probe prosecutor asks judge to release grand jury report|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/politics/sc-statehouse-probe-prosecutor-asks-judge-to-release-grand-jury-report/article_7faf39fe-c174-11e8-9a08-87539c63110c.html|access-date=2020-07-10|website=Post and Courier|date=26 September 2018 |language=en}}] Pascoe sought, and ultimately won the approval of the presiding judge of the state grand jury to publicly release the document without redactions. The report detailed the manner in which Quinn's consulting firm profited from its significant political connections by receiving lucrative retainers from corporations interested in expanding their political influence.[{{Cite web|last=By|first=Glenn Smith and Andrew Brown|title=Rep. Jim Merrill pleads guilty to misconduct, agrees to assist investigators in Statehouse corruption probe|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/news/rep-jim-merrill-pleads-guilty-to-misconduct-agrees-to-assist-investigators-in-statehouse-corruption-probe/article_8bec18cc-8e85-11e7-9e9d-27efad3582f1.html|access-date=2020-07-10|website=Post and Courier|date=September 2017 |language=en}}]
* [Richard "Rick" Quinn, Jr.](/source/Rick_Quinn_Jr.) was indicted by the State Grand Jury on May 16, 2017, for statutory and common law misconduct in office. On December 13, 2017, he resigned from office and pleaded guilty to statutory misconduct in office. The trial court took two months before sentencing Mr. Quinn Jr. to probation. Interpretation of the plea agreement was subject to significant disagreement between Pascoe and the trial court.[{{Cite news|last=Monk|first=John|date=2018-02-16|title=Prosecutor Pascoe protests Quinn sentence, says judge told him to 'go light'|work=The State Newspaper|url=https://www.thestate.com/news/local/crime/article200570334.html}}] Pascoe appealed the guilty plea and sentence issued by the court, but the South Carolina Supreme Court ruled that the State was prohibited from appealing a guilty plea under the circumstances.[State v. Quinn, 843 S.E.2d 355 (S.C. 2020)] The plea agreement was the subject of controversy, resulting in both criticism and praise of Pascoe's decision to permit the plea.[{{Cite web|last=Harpootlian|first=Richard|title=Commentary: Solicitor Pascoe to be commended for public corruption probe|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/opinion/commentary/commentary-solicitor-pascoe-to-be-commended-for-public-corruption-probe/article_87bb689a-9b96-11ea-9fa7-87392f152aa3.html|access-date=2020-07-10|website=Post and Courier|date=26 May 2020 |language=en}}][{{Cite news|last=Fincher|first=Tom|date=2018-01-11|title=Pascoe was man of the year for 2017|work=The State Newspaper}}]
* [John Courson](/source/John_Courson) pleaded guilty to common law misconduct in office on March 16, 2017, for laundering $160,000 of campaign money through his political consultant, Richard Quinn and Associates.[{{Cite news|last=Monk|first=John|date=2018-06-04|title=Longtime Richland Sen. Courson resigns, enters guilty plea in public corruption probe|work=The State Newspaper|url=https://www.thestate.com/news/local/crime/article212475519.html}}] At the time of his guilty plea, Mr. Courson served as the President Pro Tempore of the [South Carolina Senate](/source/South_Carolina_Senate). Mr. Courson maintained his innocence until the eve of trial, calling the investigation a "witch hunt".[{{Cite news|last=Monk|first=John|date=2018-10-26|title=SC Rep. Harrison found guilty in public corruption case, gets prison sentence|work=The State Newspaper|url=https://www.thestate.com/news/local/crime/article220714745.html#:~:text=A%20Richland%20County%20jury%20late,multiple%20public%20corruption%2Drelated%20counts.&text=Harrison%20is%20the%20first%20state,by%20special%20prosecutor%20David%20Pascoe.}}] The Court sentenced Mr. Harrison to 18 months in prison, making him the first state lawmaker to receive a prison sentence in the investigation.[{{Cite web|last=Benson|first=Adam|title=Lack of diversity among SC judicial election winners angers Black lawmakers|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/columbia/lack-of-diversity-among-sc-judicial-election-winners-angers-black-lawmakers/article_ad898e02-6725-11eb-927e-d3ac07cebe95.html|url-status=live|access-date=2021-04-23|website=Post and Courier|date=7 February 2021 |language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210207150334/https://www.postandcourier.com/columbia/lack-of-diversity-among-sc-judicial-election-winners-angers-black-lawmakers/article_ad898e02-6725-11eb-927e-d3ac07cebe95.html |archive-date=2021-02-07 }}] The Supreme Court upheld Harrison's perjury conviction and 18 month prison sentence, but granted him a new trial on the other charges by a 3–2 decision.[{{Cite web|last=Monk|first=John|date=2021-01-20|title=SC Supreme Court upholds perjury conviction and prison sentence of ex-Rep. Harrison|url=https://www.thestate.com/news/local/crime/article248628585.html|url-status=live|website=The State Newspaper|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120153230/https://www.thestate.com/news/local/crime/article248628585.html |archive-date=2021-01-20 }}] The majority opinion commended Pascoe for bringing the corruption to light, but that he lacked jurisdiction to prosecute the case due to the confusion of the Court's decision in '''Pascoe v. Wilson'''.[{{Cite web|last=Monk|first=John|date=2021-02-17|title=Prosecutor Pascoe's saga of exposing public corruption in Legislature comes to end|url=https://www.thestate.com/news/politics-government/article249282120.html|url-status=live|website=The State Newspaper|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210216235949/https://www.thestate.com/news/politics-government/article249282120.html |archive-date=2021-02-16 }}] Pascoe delivered the remaining pending prosecutions to the Attorney General's Office.[{{Cite web|last=By|first=Schuyler Kropf|title=Confederate flag squabble at The Citadel chapel rising again|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/politics/confederate-flag-squabble-at-the-citadel-chapel-rising-again/article_bdc217c6-cb9e-11ea-8104-e3449fb3d8f9.html|access-date=2021-04-23|website=Post and Courier|date=25 July 2020 |language=en}}] On July 22, 2020, Pascoe wrote a letter to the college's President General Glenn M. Walters asking that he remove the flag from above the Chapel.