US EditionFormer SC elections head arrested in Richland County
Howard Knapp faces eight charges including embezzlement and misconduct in office; both he and deputy Salonich were granted personal recognizance bonds, officials said.
- On Oct. 24, former South Carolina State Election Commission Executive Director Howard Knapp and Margaret Paige Salonich were arrested and booked into a Columbia, South Carolina jail, facing multiple criminal counts tied to the state election office probe.
- Earlier this month the South Carolina State Elections Commission removed Howard Knapp after two years amid misconduct allegations, following a South Carolina Law Enforcement Division probe requested by the state Attorney General and concerns about a $32 million voting machine contract with a $4 million overrun.
- SLED alleges specific theft and misuse, including Knapp embezzling more than $5,482.74 for gasoline and using state vehicles, while warrants say Margaret Paige Salonich placed a recording device, prompting a wiretapping charge.
- Both defendants were held at the Richland County facility and appeared for bond hearings Friday afternoon at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center, with a judge setting bond at $75,000 for Howard Knapp and $25,000 for Margaret Paige Salonich.
- SLED says two investigations remain open as of last week, and the arrest comes roughly a month after the South Carolina State Elections Commission fired Howard Knapp amid federal voter-data talks and a 3,200 ballot scanners contract review.
13 Articles
13 Articles
Former Executive, Deputy Directors of SC State Elections Commission arrested, charged by SLED
SOUTH CAROLINA (WJBF) - The Former Executive Director and Former Deputy Director have been arrested and directed by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED). Former Executive Director Howard Matthew Knapp, 40, and Former Deputy Director Margaret Paige Salonich, 41, were arrested by SLED on Friday. Knapp was charged by SLED with Accessory After the Fact, Misconduct in Office, Embezzlement of Public Funds, Value Less Than $10,000, and 8 …
'Turmoil' in deep-red state elections office as ex-commissioner arrested for embezzlement
Howard Knapp, the recently fired elections director for South Carolina, was arrested Friday on embezzlement and misconduct charges, reports The Post and Courier.Knapp was fired after two years in office as the executive director of the South Carolina State Election Commission in September due to multiple allegations of misconduct and misuse of public funds.The firing followed an investigation by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED)…
Former SC elections head arrested in Richland County
RICHLAND COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD) – The former head of the South Carolina Election Commission, who was fired last month, has been arrested in Richland County, according to jail records. Records show Howard Knapp was booked into the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center on Friday on 11 charges, including ethics violations, misconduct in office, and embezzlement of public funds less than $10,000. Knapp was ousted as executive director on Sept. 16 due to a “d…
Sons of Liberty Media
The Washington StandardEx-Director or Disposed Dictator? SC Elections Commission Fires Howard Knapp
Former State Election Director Howard Knapp had a tumultuous career plagued with issues and investigations that we have spent the past three years covering. Little did we know, there was so much more beneath the surface. This is the complete overview of what we know to-date, as this story is still rapidly developing. On September …
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 60% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
