David M. Pascoe

David M. Pascoe is the First Circuit Solicitor in South Carolina, serving since 2005. He gained prominence as a special prosecutor leading the ProbeGate investigation into corruption within the South Carolina General Assembly. Regarding controversies, Pascoe faced significant criticism for his use of corporate integrity agreements during the ProbeGate investigation. Critics, including South Carolina Supreme Court Justice John Few, accused Pascoe of accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars from corporations in exchange for agreements not to prosecute them, despite a state grand jury finding probable cause for criminal conduct. Pascoe eventually agreed to turn over $352,000 in collected fines to the State Ethics Commission after the agreements drew controversy. In 2026, a motion was filed to unseal a decade-old family court file involving Pascoe. A 2017 order had previously sealed the records, citing the privacy rights of the parties involved and potential impact on Pascoe's duties as solicitor, though no specific allegations of misconduct were detailed in the available reports. Additionally, in May 2026, a civil complaint was filed alleging Pascoe failed to respond to Freedom of Information Act requests concerning his travel and expenses. There are no reports of criminal indictments, charges, or convictions against Pascoe. In 2016, the South Carolina Supreme Court ruled in his favor in a dispute with the Attorney General regarding his authority to lead the ProbeGate investigation.