Ard presiding over Senate Tuesday.
/ Hank MacDonald
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- South Carolina Lt. Gov. Ken Ard presided over the state Senate as a grand jury investigation of ethics charges against him begins.
Ard took up his regular duties Tuesday as the Senate meets to discuss a compromise plan for how U.S. House district lines are drawn.
State Law Enforcement Division Chief Mark Keel on Monday approved a request that would open a grand jury investigation being sought by Attorney General Alan Wilson.
The investigation comes weeks after Ard agreed to pay $48,000 in civil fines to the state Ethics Commission for 107 counts for breaking state campaign finance laws by using campaign cash for personal expenses.
He also paid $12,500 to cover investigation costs and $12,000 to reimburse his campaign for improper spending.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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