Jim Davenport, AP reporter who kept South Carolina leaders honest for 2 decades dies

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina Associated Press reporter Jim Davenport has died. He was 54.

Davenport's wife Debra says he died Monday after battling cancer for two years.

He was a tenacious reporter who made it his mission to inform people in South Carolina about what their governors, lawmakers and other powerful officials were doing with their tax money and their influence.

During his 13 years with the AP, Davenport uncovered improper flights by Gov. Mark Sanford that led to a $74,000 ethics fine. He also uncovered the state Commerce Department's use of a private marketing account to pay for $1,000 chairs, a maid for the director's Columbia apartment and alcohol for its Christmas parties.