Bangalore: Nikki Haley said that the person accusing her of ethics violations is a "racist, sexist bigot”, in a testimony before the House Ethics Committee yesterday.

John Rainey, a Republican activist insulted Haley’s family passing comments such as she was related to terrorists, Haley told the six-member committee.

‘’Rainey is a racist, sexist bigot who has tried everything in his power to hurt me and my family," Haley said. "He came in and was demeaning and he was demanding and basically said that he wanted me to prove certain things so that if I took the oath, they wouldn't find out later that my family was related to terrorists."

This is the first time the South Carolina House Ethics Committee is investigating on a sitting governor. According to Rainey, Nikki Haley illegally lobbied for Wilbur Smith Associates and Lexington Medical Center when she was serving in the legislature as a hospital fundraiser.

Denying the accusations Haley said, "I know exactly what my frame of mind was ... and I want to be able to tell you exactly what happened," Haley said. "And I want to tell you the truth because I've done nothing wrong."

Butch Bowers, Haley's attorney told the ethics committee that "allegations are not facts." "Just because someone says it with conviction, doesn't make it true," Bowers said. He also added that Rainey is ‘misguided, misinformed, and mistaken’.

Haley told the panel that while she was serving the legislature, she knew about Wilbur Smith Associates’ deal to work on a new Senate Farmers Market, but she is no way related to it.

"I did not lobby in any way whatsoever for anybody, at any time," said Haley

Moreover, the 10 other witnesses favoured Haley and told that they never came across incidents where Haley lobbies with anyone for anything.