The Latest: Judge delays decision on prosecutor removal

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - The Latest on corruption charges against state Rep. Rick Quinn (all times local):

5:30 p.m.

A judge wants written arguments from both sides in two weeks before deciding whether to remove the main prosecutor from a criminal case involving a state lawmaker.

Circuit Judge Knox McMahon heard several hours of testimony Tuesday from lawyers for Rep. Richard Quinn Jr. They were trying to show that Solicitor David Pascoe got information from documents he was not supposed to see.

Several State Law Enforcement Division agents who were part of a raid on an office used by Quinn and his father in March testified. They all say they put any documents from or to lawyers into an envelope without reading closely.

Pascoe says he hasn’t seen any of the evidence.

Quinn is charged with two counts of misconduct in office and says Pascoe is a Democratic prosecutor going after Republicans for political reasons.

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1:35 p.m.

The former South Carolina House majority leader indicted on charges he lobbied for clients while in office says his prosecution is politically motivated.

Rep. Rick Quinn said Tuesday he would like to know why Solicitor David Pascoe, elected as a Democrat, has only indicted four Republican lawmakers so far in a nearly three-year corruption investigation.

Quinn says Pascoe has a feud with Republican Attorney General Alan Wilson, who turned the investigation over to Pascoe and then unsuccessfully asked the court to kick Pascoe off the case.

Quinn’s lawyers also want Pascoe removed. Pascoe didn’t talk to reporters during the hearing’s lunch break

Also Tuesday, a judge released Quinn on his own recognizance as he awaits trial for two counts of misconduct in office.

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11 a.m.

A judge is allowing lawyers for state Rep Richard Quinn Jr. to argue the man prosecuting him should be kicked off the case.

Quinn is charged with two counts of misconduct in office.

Quinn’s lawyers said at a hearing Tuesday that prosecutor David Pascoe and investigators saw documents they were not legally allowed to see during a March search of Quinn’s father’s political consulting business.

State Law Enforcement Division agents were scheduled to testify. Agent Richard Gregory vigorously denied reading any documents that were between Quinn and his father and their lawyers.

Richard Quinn Sr. has not been charged.

Prosecutors say Richard Quinn Jr. took more than $4 million from lobbyists without reporting the money and acted as a lobbyist to influence issues while he was a lawmaker.

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3:40 a.m.

A former Republican majority leader in the South Carolina House and the son of a veteran political consultant is heading to court after his indictments

Rick Quinn has a bond hearing at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday. Immediately after, his lawyers plan a hearing before a judge shrouded in secrecy.

Quinn’s lawyers filed legal papers under seal for the hearing and refused to tell The Associated Press what they are about.

Quinn’s attorney Greg Harris told The State newspaper last week he will argue that prosecutor David Pascoe violated Quinn’s civil rights in his three-year investigation.

The Republican is charged with two counts of misconduct in office. Prosecutors say he took more than $4 million from lobbyists without reporting the money and acted as a lobbyist to influence issues while a lawmaker.