The terse, 3-sentence letter seems rather insignificant compared to the amount of attention the situation received.

Nonetheless, after a review of the evidence garnered from a South Carolina Law Enforcement Division investigation, the state Attorney General’s Office has cleared former Cherokee County Veterans Affairs Officer Sammy Willard of any wrongdoing.

“...I have determined that there is insufficient evidence at this time to prove any criminal violations. As a result, I am returning your Investigative Report and closing this file in my office,” Assistant Attorney General Cary Goings wrote to SLED agent Scott Williams.

The letter was dated July 16.

A message left on Willard’s home answering machine wasn’t returned Tuesday. But sources said Willard had been in contact with many veterans and supporters, relaying the news.

The matter began in the summer of 2008 when Veterans Affairs Office clerks Michele Tucker and Kathy Love met behind closed doors with the Cherokee County Legislative Delegation. During the meeting, they were placed under oath to answer questions about the office and Veterans Affairs Officer Sammy Willard, according to lawsuits they have filed.

Upon his return from vacation, Willard fired the clerks Sept. 29, 2008 for allegedly making false allegations against him.

Those allegations triggered a SLED investigation. However, those accusations have yet to be made public because Love and Tucker were instructed to remain silent during the investigation.

SLED concluded its probe in November 2008 and forwarded its findings to the Attorney General’s Office to decide if charges would be filed.

Neither Love nor Tucker could be reached for comment. The clerks have maintained their jobs were safe and protected by the Whistleblower Act. They appealed their firing to the Cherokee County Grievance Committee, which failed to issue a recommendation because of a lack of evidence offered by the clerks or Willard during the hearing.

The women also have filed federal lawsuits in U.S. District Court against their former employer, seeking unspecified back pay, front pay and other damages, including punitive damages, claiming their First Amendment right to free speech was violated.

In addition to Willard, the suit names Cherokee County, the Cherokee County Veterans Affairs Office and the Division of Veterans Affairs as defendants.