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Senator Lieber says 8 of 11 Charleston County library board members refuse U.S. Constitution oath, urges county council to remove them
Summary
Senator from Charleston Robert Lieber told the Senate eight of 11 members of the Charleston County Library Board have refused to swear an oath to the U.S. and South Carolina constitutions and asked county council to remove those members; he said the attorney general advised the oath is legally required.
Senator Lieber (Senator from Charleston) used floor time to raise what he described as a legal and civic concern about the Charleston County Library Board. Lieber told the Senate that eight of 11 library board members "will not swear an oath to the constitution" and that he had asked the state attorney general for an opinion on the question of whether appointed or elected board members must take the U.S. and South Carolina constitutional oaths. According to Lieber, the attorney general's written opinion confirmed that officials and appointees are required by law to take the constitutional oath. Lieber said some library board members had "made up their own oath," and he called on Charleston County Council to remove the eight members who, he said, have refused to comply.
Why it matters: Lieber framed the issue as a matter of public trust and fiduciary responsibility. He noted the library board controls public resources and public policy at the county level, telling the Senate "you just can't be in charge of the taxpayers' money" without taking the constitutional oath. He also cited the board's budget, saying the board “has a $45,000,000 budget,” and he urged county council to appoint replacements who would publicly affirm their commitment to both constitutions.
What the Senate did: Lieber requested unanimous consent to have his remarks entered in the Senate journal; the Senate granted the request without objection.
Context and responses: In his remarks Lieber said he had consulted the attorney general and had received the formal opinion he expected-that appointees and elected officers must take the constitutional oath. He asked county council to remove the eight members; he also said the matter was not partisan but civic in nature, urging colleagues to check their local boards and commissions. Senator Grooms (Senator from Berkeley) asked unanimous consent to give Lieber additional floor time; other senators rose to support Lieber's statement.
Ending: The Senate recorded Lieber’s remarks in the journal by unanimous consent. Lieber said he planned to press county council to appoint members who will "raise their hand and show their respect and love for the constitution of The United States and South Carolina."
