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COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- A 30-year FBI veteran will become South Carolina's first independent inspector general.

The Senate voted unanimously on Thursday to confirm Patrick Maley, Gov. Nikki Haley's pick for the agency that investigates allegations of fraud, waste and abuse in state government.

Maley is retiring from the FBI. The 53-year-old has been the special agent in charge in Birmingham, Ala., since 2009. He was previously the assistant special agent in Columbia for three years.

Maley is actually the third person in the job. The first inspector general quietly left amid concerns of the office's independence.

Haley created the role by executive order in March 2011, putting it in the governor's office. A law signed in February made the office a separate agency. But it won't operate independently until July 1.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)