Prison Officials Under Investigation in Porn Scandal

State Attorney General Henry McMaster will launch an investigation into allegations that high-level prison officials used work computers to trade pornographic images.

"This office will begin making the appropriate inquiries to determine if any criminal activity has taken place," Mark Plowden, a spokesman for McMaster, told WLTX Columbia. 

Sen. Mike Fair (R-Greenville) called for McMaster to investigate the alleged activity in a letter last week. Fair said he enlisted McMaster because of the Attorney General's previous experience in pursuing internet porn cases.

The Department of Corrections began an internal investigation into the matter last month after an employee reported seeing porn on a work computer. 

Initial reports state that the material involved in the alleged exchanges was not illegal. However, Plowden told the Associated Press, images of consenting adults "could violate state law depending on how they're produced and disseminated."

McMaster intends to review the Department of Corrections' findings in the case, and could order further investigation by the S.C. Law Enforcement Division.