We have had a ton of people reach out to us about our October 6th article showing one example of why we need judicial reform … The Appeal of Davis v. Leupp (HERE) … but if you enjoyed that, wait until you see the below example of needed judicial reform and how a SC Court ruled on a (false) sworn affidavit for a politically connected player … Chad Connelly.
Perjury is a CRIME, right? A felony, right? YES, yes it is!!!
2024 SC Judicial Reform
Know that Judicial Reform is the talk of political circles right now … and folks will be pushing it hard in 2024 from both the Right & the Left. What we have seen talked about so far are relative half measures … i.e., changing the composition of the Judicial Merit Selection Committee (JMSC) – not getting rid of the JMSC entirely and not “real” judicial reform. But we suspect there will be much more to talk about than little tweaks as voters learn exactly how bad it is in our SC Courts. Stay tuned …
A Head Scratcher Example
It has been THREE years now … and still ongoing … but this example starts with a February 12th, 2020, Declaratory Judgment Lawsuit filed simply asking the SC Courts to:
1. IMMEDIATELY STOP Chad Connelly & his Board from taking out excessive administrative fees from the 100% government run non-profit Exceptional SC (our state’s failed and Nation’s worst rated K-12 school choice program) … and
2. DECLARE exactly how the law is supposed to be interpreted as the SC Department of Revenue was not enforcing the law as directed and K-12 children with special needs were suffering.
The problem … Chad Connelly, the former SCGOP Chairman, current Newberry County GOP State EC, Drew McKissick’s mentor, and buddy to Attorney General Alan Wilson and a ton of other legislators … filed a false sworn affidavit with the SC Court in Newberry essentially saying that if the Court cut off his personal $11,300 / month payment and other overhead expenses, children would suffer as he was doing much better at that time and had raised $1,045,000 in the past 21 days thus justifying his fee and going over the established legal limits for administrative overhead.
Say what??? Yes, we were equally perplexed as you can’t break the law just because you are Chad Connelly … or can you??? The law is the law and has to be followed, right???
THE LIE / PERJURY: Even worse … Chad and Exceptional SC had not raised $1,045,000 over the applicable past 21-day period as Chad falsely swore in his affidavit. Documents later surfaced that he had only procured $99,201 in non-binding “pledges”, not even donations, and nowhere close to $1,045,000 in the cash donations Chad claimed while under SC Department of Revenue supervision!!!
No, we did not believe the original sworn affidavit … but once we got the proof we filed a MOTION FOR PERJURY, CONTEMPT, AND SANCTIONS FOR FALSE AFFIDAVIT. How did the Newberry Court rule? The Court refused to do anything … simply saying they “did not rely” on the false sworn affidavit in ruling that I, as plaintiff and a donor to Exceptional SC, did not have standing to file the declaratory judgment lawsuit. Those two rulings are under appeal right now (see legal filings below).
Seriously??? The Court “did not rely” upon the perjured Sworn Affidavit Chad Connelly filed with the Court … so it is OK and he gets a pass???
The Court may not have “relied” upon the false & perjured Sworn Affidavit … but it was false, it was perjury, and it was filed with the SC Court in an effort to defeat the Declaratory Judgement Lawsuit … keep his $11,300 monthly payments coming … and it was filed to cover up the wrongdoing. However, we did not quit and found the PROOF that it was false. #NeverSURRENDER!
WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED TO YOU? What do you think would have happened if you or I filed a false sworn affidavit with a SC Court? I can assure you I would probably be in jail to this day. But not the politically connected Chad Connelly … he is buddies with Governor McMaster & Lt. Governor Pamela Evette … so he slides by … or will he? Well that is not right and that is not equal application of the law … hence, our needed SC JUDICIAL REFORM!!!
Perjury is a CRIME
Yes, perjury is a crime and a serious crime … in fact it is a Class F “felony” with up to 5 years in prison … and nowhere in the law does it state that it is ok to disregard perjury just because the Court “did not rely” upon the false sworn affidavit.
SLED Investigation
Oh … it get’s worse. What was even more serious here was the fact that at the time, Chad Connelly was also under SC State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) investigation for a complaint I filed alleging EMBEZZELMENT. Chad and the Exceptional SC Board were taking out more money in overhead expenses … significantly more … and technically that appears to read as EMBEZZELMENT.
See the image and description below. What do you think?
And don’t forget … Chad had me “barred” from the SC State Executive Committee Meetings because he said I lied about him being under SLED investigation … and I’m still banned from those meetings to this day even though I am the duly elected State Executive Committeeman from the Greenville County Republican Party … all for TELLING THE TRUTH. (HERE)
So, was Chad trying to cover up a crime? It appears so to me … but what will “career prosecutors” at the Attorney General’s Office say?
AG to Prosecute?
Tomorrow we will have for you what law enforcement and SC Attorney General Alan Wilson’s Office has to say about prosecuting this case … stay tuned. 😉
Huge WIN!: Just to put everything in perspective, the original case itself was technically dismissed due to “standing” (sound familiar?) and is currently under appeal (including this perjury issue) … but the end result is that we “won” as Chad Connelly, the Executive Director & Tom Persons, the Chairman were both let go / resigned (to put it kindly) from Exceptional SC (the Nation’s worst rated K-12 private school choice program) in July 2020 during and because of this case. Although we had been telling the SC Department of Revenue and legislators that Chad Connelly was violating the law … nothing was done until we filed this lawsuit and brought more public attention to the matter.
Good news for the kids … bad news for the witnessing of exactly how corrupt our system is.
Dum spiro spero
(“While I breathe, I hope”)
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR …
Jeff Davisis co-founder of mySCGOP.com . Jeff is a ’89 graduate of The Citadel and in 1993 received his Law/MBA from USC. A tax attorney / CPA licensed in Georgia, Jeff is an uncompromised school choice advocate for K-12 children with special needs. Originally from Charleston, and having practiced in Atlanta, Jeff and his wife Olga now live in Greenville. Jeff completed his two year term as Greenville County Republican Party Chairman and is currently serving as GCRP State Executive Committeeman.
As we head into the 2026 South Carolina Primaries next June 9th, Republican (and Democrat) voters will be faced with picking which Republican (or Democrat) they want to represent them in the general election. It will be a choice we each have to make among the available options … the 2, 3 or 5 candidates that filed and are on the ballot … and there is no “None Of The Above” option. Sure, you don’t have to vote … but don’t complain later when you sat out the election.
We are seeing already … the jockeying by political consultants and their operatives to push their candidate (and tear down the opponents) … and the “PERFECTIONISTS” that complain about every candidate, but offer no solutions (and are not willing to run for office themselves).
A THOUGHTFUL APPROACH: Selection of a candidate to support is not easy. None of them are perfect, and how much can you really believe from what you hear on the campaign trail. What we like to encourage is that everyone think critically and logically about candidates and their campaigns, and steer clear as best you can of the emotional knee-jerk reactions that often dominate the discussions.
IT IS NOT JUST THE CANDIDATE – LOOK AT THEIR TEAM: While it’s tempting to focus solely on the candidate, it’s equally important to examine the people they surround themselves with. If you’re unaware of a candidate’s consultants (and their motivations), staff (and their roles), or the candidate’s supporters (who will inevitable have the ear of the candidate), it’s wise to hold off on offering your support. Ultimately, it’s not just about the candidate—it’s about their TEAM (or the “baggage” that comes with them).
We like to prioritize two key qualities when evaluating candidates:
(#1) Electability: A candidate (a) willing to run for office and (b) capable of winning. You may know the “perfect” person, but if they won’t run for office or are not capable of winning … what good are they?
(#2) Collaboration and Integrity: A candidate open to working with The People, with the grassroots, willing to listen, eager to include The People as part of their TEAM, and genuinely committed to doing what’s objectively right for the people—not just themselves (or their monied special interest backers). Here is where experience and judgment comes into consideration because you really don’t know what a candidate might do once elected. We have helped candidates get elected – and then never spoken with them again (not by our choice). Being lied to is a hard lesson to learn.
This process of selecting a candidate to back is both an art and a science, and while we may never find the “perfect” candidate, we can identify and support those who meet these two criteria and give us the best odds of promoting the conservative cause … at least until the next election when we will have another chance to try again.
THE TRUMP OF 2016: Reflecting on the field of “candidates” in 2016 … and the original “candidate” DONALD J. TRUMP … I believe that original candidate TRUMP, embodied these qualities, and that approach has proven effective in helping Save America.
STOP LOOKING FOR A “POLITICAL SAVIOR”: Most importantly, let’s remember, no candidate will save us. There is only one true “Savior”, and He is not running for office. Our work continues, so don’t think you are off the hook if your person gets elected. But having the right people – dedicated TEAM players – in elected positions from top to bottom can make all the difference.
Be smart … be logical … don’t be emotional … and don’t just complain, complain, complain.
Dum spiro spero (“While I breathe, I hope”)
Best,
Jeff Davis, JD, MBA, CPA(GA) Chairman & Co-Founder, mySCGOP.com Chairman, Greenville County Republican Party jeff@apogeetax.com 843-901-8036 (cell)
The NANCY MACE campaign released polling numbers yesterday showing a commanding early lead in the South Carolina Governor’s Race … 25% MACE, 17% Alan Wilson, 10% Ralph Norman, 6% Pamela Evette, 3% Josh Kimbrell … with 38% Lean / Undecided. You can see the full reports HERE & below.
The polling results show MACE separating herself from the crowd since officially launching her candidacy last week and announcing AUSTIN MCCUBBIN (HERE), the 2024 TRUMP Team Statewide Director, has joined her team. This all seems to make MACE the early odds on favorite to win the Republican Primary next June 9th, 2026 … 294 days from today.
You can find more details on FITSNews (HERE & on X HERE) … but the real story broke when President TRUMP himself shared the MACE Polling Lead on his TRUTH Social (HERE) last night at 9:29pm. When the POTUS shares your leading polling data with the world … that is a not so subtle message.
Good news for NANCY MACE … but and incredibly bad sign for Lt. Governor Pamela Evette who is in a distant 4th with 6% of the vote. The Lt. Governor has led folks to believe she has TRUMP’s endorsement locked up. Well, that claim did not seem believable at the time … and really doesn’t appear believable now. When was the last time TRUMP endorsed someone in 4th place??? We can’t remember either.
Stay tuned … it is going to be a fun 2026 primary season!!!
Governments and leaders are part of His sovereign plan, even if imperfect. Our leaders’ responsibility is to govern justly, as their authority is a divine trust. All authority is ultimately accountable to God. We always encourage and expect politicians and leaders on ANY level to act with integrity, knowing their role carries divine responsibility, and most importantly we urge ourselves and other citizens to hold leaders and their followers accountable to those ethical standards.
” Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted.”
Romans 13:1-2
To repeat from last Sunday (HERE), our life choices have consequences. The meaningful decisions we make may not be the popular ones, often require efforts and sacrifice.
Friends, we have been running a weekly Coffee & Politics Meeting out of our Greenville Headquarters for nearly 3 1/2 years now … and it has been a huge hit. It is how we communicate our vision and #Mission to or local Volunteers and Community … and it one way we RECRUIT more people to the MAGA America First movement.
Our life choices have consequences. The meaningful decisions we make may not be the popular ones, often require efforts and sacrifice. There is also the path of no effort, easy way out, whatever gets me there faster attitude bringing instant gratification, conforming to peer pressures often avoiding moral challenges. Choosing the less-traveled route of integrity, self-control, faithfulness, and alignment with God’s principles may be harder but is the righteous path bringing lasting reward. Choose wisely!
” Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
Matthew 7:13-14
To repeat from last Sunday (HERE), God is merciful. God is patient…
Coffee & Politics – August 8th, 2025 – YouTube (HERE), RUMBLE (HERE) & X (HERE).
Friends, we have been running a weekly Coffee & Politics Meeting out of our Greenville Headquarters for nearly 3 1/2 years now … and it has been a huge hit. It is how we communicate our vision and #Mission to or local Volunteers and Community … and it one way we RECRUIT more people to the MAGA America First movement.