|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
COLUMBIA, S.C. (BFMG) — South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson joined state lawmakers and sheriffs at the Statehouse on Tuesday to call for swift passage of a bill aimed at accelerating investigations into child sexual abuse material.
Wilson, speaking alongside Sen. Greg Hembree, R-Horry; Rep. Travis Moore, R-Spartanburg; and sheriffs from Charleston, Lexington and York counties, urged the General Assembly to pass Senate Bill 74 before the legislative session ends. The bill would allow the Attorney General’s Office to issue administrative subpoenas for electronic records during child exploitation investigations — a process currently routed through the U.S. Attorney’s Office that can take days or even months.
“Every day that passes without S.74 becoming law is another day we risk leaving children vulnerable and giving child predators a head start,” Wilson said. “This bill gives law enforcement the tools we need to act faster, protect more kids, and bring offenders to justice.”
Under the proposed law, administrative subpoenas would speed up early-stage investigations, though any search warrants would still require judicial approval.
“This is not about cutting corners — it’s about cutting red tape,” Wilson said. “We’re talking about saving lives and preventing unimaginable harm.”
Sen. Hembree, the bill’s lead sponsor, emphasized the need for quick legislative action to reconcile differences between the House and Senate versions.
“There’s overwhelming bipartisan support,” Hembree said. “Now we need urgent action. Our children are counting on us.”
Rep. Moore echoed that urgency, saying predators are using advanced technology to exploit children and law enforcement needs modern tools to keep up. “S.74 provides that, and we must finish the job,” he said.
Sheriffs Carl Ritchie of Charleston County, Jay Koon of Lexington County and Tony Breeden of York County joined the push, emphasizing that delays in access to electronic records hinder timely intervention.
“The more time that goes by, the more harm that’s happening to our children,” Ritchie said. “Let’s get this passed.”
Wilson thanked lawmakers for their efforts thus far, but made clear that more work remains. “The mission isn’t finished until this bill is on the Governor’s desk,” he said. “Let’s get it done, for the children of South Carolina.”
