COLUMBIA - Nikki Haley, Mark Sanford's handpicked successor, is taking a page from her political mentor's playbook, say South Carolina Democrats. Haley, who has run on a platform of openness and transparency, first refused to release her tax returns, but recently caved in under public scrutiny. Then she claimed a legislative exemption to a Freedom of Information Act request, stalling for nearly three months after the press requested the documents.
Haley's email release came nearly two weeks after Democrat Vincent Sheheen gave the public unprecedented access to his legislative e-mail account.
Relenting, Haley announced yesterday that she would attempt to let her actions match her rhetoric. Her conditions: the press would not have the e-mails released to them, but would instead be allowed to view the more than 4,000 messages in a closed-door meeting and take notes. Copies and photographs would be forbidden.
"Where there's smoke, there's fire," said South Carolina Democratic Party Chair Carol Fowler. "It's no accident that she's so severely limiting what she's willing to show the public and the press after having more than three months to prepare. Nikki Haley, like Mark Sanford before her, is investing a lot of time and energy in making sure that the public only sees what she wants them to see. The taxpayers deserve better."