The state’s political corruption investigations will be in new hands.

SC Attorney General Alan Wilson has given 4 high-profile public corruption cases involving 3 former state lawmakers and a political consultant to Spartanburg prosecutor Barry Barnette.

Barnette will take over from Special Prosecutor David Pascoe:

• Sentencing of former State Sen. John Courson who had represented the Irmo-St. Andrews areas of Lexington County.

Courson admitted his guilt in taking $159,000 in kick backs from longtime GOP political consultant Richard Quinn.

• Perjury and obstruction of justice charges against Richard Quinn.

Quinn allegedly lied to a state grand jury in a confidential session about his involvement with politicians.

In 2019, a state grand jury indicted Quinn on 11 counts of perjury and 1 count of obstruction of justice.

The grand jury indicted Quinn for influence peddling and behind-the-scene payments to state lawmakers.

Quinn’s son, former Rep. Rick Quinn of Lexington, has been convicted of political corruption.

• Perjury and misconduct charges against former Rep. Tracy Edge, R-Horry, indicted in 2017 by Pascoe’s state grand jury.

• Misconduct charges against former Rep. Jim Harrison, R-Richland County, a former House Judiciary Committee chairman who was convicted of lying under oath.