In recent days the Palmetto Public Record has been reporting that S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley and the Sikh Society of South Carolina are under federal investigation.
The story includes what appears to be a copy of letter sent to the Sikh Society from the IRS informing the religious organization that its tax status is being examined. And today the website reports that an indictment of Haley is imminent, and likely to center around the time Haley spent managing the Society's finances.
Haley, according to an article posted Thursday evening by The State, denied having any connection to a 2011 tax audit of the Sikh temple in Chapin where her parents are leaders. She told the paper,
“I have never kept their books. I’ve never made deposits. I never signed checks. I never did financial statements,” Haley said.
"(The) IRS is not permitted to discuss a particular or specific taxpayer's tax matter or their taxes based on federal disclosure regulations and federal law," said IRS spokesman Mark Hanson.
Multiple GOP sources across the state declined to discuss the matter on the record, but one state representative said talk of a possible indictment had the house floor buzzing on Thursday.
Others were discounting the story.
Taft Matney, a Mauldin-based political consultant who has known Haley since before she was elected, said: "I'd be surprised if there is anything major there."
Conservative political news blog Fitsnews.com sees the letter uncovered by Palmetto Public Record as vindication of its own reporting on investigations involving the Sikh Temple and the Governor since 2010.
Recently, alleging Haley committed ethics violations while a member of the State House. Manning ruled that his court was not the proper venue to decide a case involving alleged ethics violations that occurred while Haley served in the House of Representatives.
Haley spokesman Rob Godfrey was not immediately available for comment Thursday afternoon.
South Carolina Republican Party Executive Director Matt Moore declined to discuss the reports.
"At this time we have no comment on internet speculation," Moore said.
