W. Walter Wilkins III, who served as South Carolina U.S. Attorney under President George W. Bush, has announced he will run for a state prosecutor post, The Greenville News reported today.
W. Walter Wilkins (DOJ)
Wilkins, a Republican who stepped down as U.S. Attorney earlier this month, is looking to succeed South Carolina 13th circuit court solicitor Bob Ariail, who isn’t running for reelection, according to The News. This will be Wilkins’s first bid for elected office, the newspaper said.
“I will be a tough, no-nonsense prosecutor and my experience and record should assure the people of Greenville and Pickens counties that I will be prepared to serve them on day one,” Wilkins told The News.
Ariail was criticized for his prosecution of a local businessman who crashed his Maserati into a house, killing a man who was watching TV in his living room, according to the newspaper. The businessman wasn’t immediately charged, which drew protesters to the Greenville county courthouse, the newspaper said. He eventually received probation on a reckless homicide charge, according to The News.
Wilkins served as U.S. Attorney from 2008 until earlier this month. President Barack Obama nominated defense lawyer William Nettles for the post last month. Kevin F. McDonald is currently serving as the acting U.S. Attorney for South Carolina.
