SC Governor Henry McMaster sacked a state agency chief on Monday and called for an investigation into whether she helped direct a $ 600,000 government contract to her husband’s company.
In an unprecedented move since taking office in 2017, McMaster dismissed Executive Director of the State Accident Fund, Amy Cofield, and referred the matter to the office of the Inspector General, who investigates allegations of “fraud, waste, abuse, mismanagement, misconduct and irregularities within state agencies.
“These acquisition actions raise significant ethical and legal issues about the conduct of State Accident Fund employees,” said McMaster in a written statement. “In addition to dismissing the director immediately, I asked Inspector General Brian Lamkin to conduct a full investigation to determine whether criminal violations of state law occurred. This is essential to maintain public confidence in the state government ”.
Cofield has led the little-known agency since McMaster appointed him to the $ 135,280 post in January 2019. Executive directors of the State Accident Fund usually serve six-year terms.
His agency offers workers’ compensation insurance to nearly 600 employers and 200,000 employees in South Carolina, including workers at state agencies.
Lexington’s lawyer graduated three times from the University of South Carolina, according to her page on the State Accident Fund website.
In 2014, she ran unsuccessfully for SC Education Superintendent, finishing fifth out of eight Republican Party primary candidates that Molly Spearman, the current head of state schools, ended up winning.
His brother, Tommy Cofield, was then governor. Appointed by Nikki Haley to the Board of Trustees at the University of South Carolina.
This is a developing story that will be updated.
Reach Avery Wilks at 803-374-3115. Follow him on Twitter at @AveryGWilks.