Democrats call on Lt. Gov. Ard to resign

Democrats call on Lt. Gov. Ard to resign: "(By JIM DAVENPORT, Associated Press) South Carolina Democrats said Thursday that Lt. Gov. Ken Ard should immediately resign as his ethics case heads to a state grand jury and called on Republicans to stop working on backroom deals to replace him.

Three weeks ago, Ard paid the state Ethics Commission a $48,000 fine after being hit with 107 civil counts of using campaign cash for personal expenses. Those included a family vacation, iPads, a flat-screen television, clothes, meals and a trip to the SEC championship game last fall. He also had to pay $12,500 to cover the costs of the state ethics investigation and had to reimburse his campaign $12,000."