Davenport | Treasurer’s dad says son has drug problem
‘He’s in pretty bad shape,’ Arthur Ravenel says; ‘we’re all devastated’
By JIM DAVENPORT - The Associated Press
GREENVILLE — The father of indicted South Carolina Treasurer Thomas Ravenel said Monday his son has a drug problem and his family has urged the man to get help.
“He’s in pretty bad shape, you know. He’s got a drug problem,” Arthur Ravenel said in telephone interview with The Associated Press. “We suspected it.”
Thomas Ravenel, 44, was indicted last week on a federal cocaine charge. Prosecutors said he bought less than 500 grams of the drug to share with other people.
The elder Ravenel said he has spoken with his son about getting “top-notch professional help” and told him the family supports him.
Arthur Ravenel, 80, said he hadn’t seen much of his millionaire real estate developer son since he took office as treasurer in January. But he said he had heard rumors about his son’s problems.