Ex-GOP official admits part in robo-calls scam

Almost a year after first being charged with setting up illegal, automated phone calls in an attempt to sway the outcome of an election, a former Aiken Republican party board member has admitted to the activity and is "deeply sorry."

Virginia "Ginny" Allen of Driftwood Circle in Aiken is charged with six counts of making unsolicited consumer phone calls. Allen is accused of paying to have political robo-calls made to Aiken County residents in early June without properly disclosing the person behind the calls, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division said at the time.

In a letter seemingly sent as part of her pretrial intervention program (PTI), Allen addressed Sen. Greg Ryberg "and the voters of Senate District 24" to apologize for her conduct and repeatedly stated that Ryberg had nothing to do with the incident.

"I regret my participation in the negative campaign tactics surrounding the automated robo-calls during the recent state Senate race, and I want to be very clear that Sen. Ryberg had no knowledge or any involvement," Allen wrote in the letter carbon copied to Solicitor Strom Thurmond Jr. and her defense attorney Greg Harlow.

Investigators said Allen manipulated the caller ID to show the number of "REI Incorporated," a business owned and operated by Sen. Ryberg but did not have the senator's permission to do so.

"The apology appears to be sincere, it lays out exactly what happened," Ryberg said of the letter, Tuesday. "As far as I'm concerned, it's behind us." The South Carolina Senator said he felt PTI was appropriate for the case.

"I think the judicial body made a decision as to what the best course of action would be, and I support what they have done here. I wanted to get the story out, we need to move on."

The calls endorsed Ryberg for the District 24 Senate seat and Aiken County Councilman Scott Singer for S.C. House District 81 seat. Ryberg handily beat North Augusta City Councilman Jason Whinghter in that race, but Singer later lost in a run-off with Tom Young.

Allen indicates in the letter that she did not act alone in the criminal, politically-motivated act but does not comment on others involved.

"This was a harsh, mean tactic used by political operatives during this very tight race," she wrote. "My part in this negative ploy has weighed heavily on my heart. ... I furthermore regret any harm it may have caused any candidate as well as voters that may have lost faith in the democratic process."

The fear of further jading an already skeptical electorate was echoed by Singer, who lost a close race.

"I appreciate her effort to make the public apology," he said. "But when folks are running for office, the focus should be on candidates, not some of the sideshows that are coming into play. People have such little faith in their government and those who hold political office. When someone engages in negative politics, people very quickly accept it."

Young would only say that his campaign had no involvement whatsoever with the incident.

Messages left requesting comment from Whinghter were not returned Tuesday.

Pretrial intervention was created by an Act of the South Carolina General Assembly in 1980. It is an intervention program in which selected offenders may participate as an alternative to prosecution.

Contact Mike Gellatly at mgellatly@aikenstandard.com.