Howard Knapp, South Carolina's former elections director who was fired in September, was arrested Friday on misconduct in office, embezzlement and other charges.
Knapp, 40, faces 11 charges that include using his official position or office for financial gain, embezzlement of public funds valued at less than $10,000, misconduct in office and accessory after the fact to a felony.
Knapp was issued a $75,000 personal recognizance bond at the Richland County jail.
His attorney Joe McCulloch told the judge the father of five children is not a flight risk or a danger to the community. Bond requirements include that he not leave the state.
"This is all about politics," McCulloch told reporters after the bond hearing. "We look forward to a very public trial. See you there."
Margaret Paige Salonich, 41, the former deputy executive director of the State Election Commission, was also arrested Friday morning.
Salonich, a mother of three children, is charged with wiretapping and received a $25,000 personal recognizance bond at her hearing Friday at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center.
Her attorney Catherine Hunter declined to comment Friday as she left the jail with Salonich's father. Salonich's bond requirements also include that she not leave the state.
Knapp and Salonich's first court appearance is Dec. 19.
State Law Enforcement Division warrant allegations include that:
- Salonich placed a personal recorder in the State Election Commission meeting room to record the meeting. Later that night and the next day, warrants say Knapp called employees in an attempt to remove the device.
- Knapp used state vehicles for personal use and used his agency purchasing card to buy fuel for the state cars for personal use.
- Knapp embezzled $5,482.74 of public money by buying fuel for personal use for two state fleet cars. Warrants say the cars were used by Knapp and his wife for unauthorized, off-duty personal use, business or recreation.
Jenny Wooten, the agency's interim director, called the allegations "deeply troubling."
"Through internal investigations, personnel actions, and full cooperation with law enforcement, the commission’s chairman and members have acted swiftly, decisively, and transparently to address this matter," Wooten said in a statement. "The State Election Commission is firmly committed to restoring the public’s trust and remains dedicated to upholding the integrity, accountability, and professionalism that the people of South Carolina expect and deserve."
Knapp was fired Sept. 17 by the State Election Commission in a 3-2 vote.
At a later Oct. 15 meeting, Commission Chairman Dennis Shedd said Knapp was removed for "inappropriate conduct." That included, he said, misusing agency money for personal reasons and "conspiring" with other management-level staff to "falsify documentation" that the commission was seeking and "conspiring" with those employees to lie that they had falsified documentation.
Shedd also faulted Knapp's leadership style of creating a "toxic and perhaps a hostile work environment" at the State Election Commission. Shedd also questioned a contract for new voting machines that he said cost $4 million more than the expected $28 million price tag.
Salonich, who Shedd described as a "very close friend" of Knapp's, was fired days after Knapp on Sept. 22 following an internal investigation.
Her termination letter said she "failed to maintain a satisfactory or harmonious working relationship" with employees and supervisors, and raised her voice at leadership, used profanity and made disruptive remarks.
The letter also said that on Sept. 17 she was recorded on agency security cameras placing an unauthorized device in the State Election Commission training room, a violation of state and agency policy.
A third State Election Commission employee, former spokesman John Michael Catalano, resigned on Oct. 10.
“We're finding out new stuff that old management did,” Shedd told reporters Oct. 15.
Knapp's firing occurred as the agency continues its work with the U.S. Department of Justice on the release of the state's voter rolls that includes driver's license and Social Security numbers.
The DOJ request is part of a multi-state ask for voter and election information that has raised questions about what specifically the information will be used for and how the sensitive data will be stored.
Talks between the DOJ and the State Election Commission are still continuing.
Shedd said the DOJ matter was not a factor in Knapp's firing.
Knapp has been under investigation by the State Law Enforcement Division. The state Inspector's General's Office is also looking into the agency's conduct under Knapp.
Court records Friday show Knapp's arresting officer was John Bancroft, a special agent with SLED.
A SLED spokesperson confirmed last month that SLED was requested by the state Attorney General's Office on March 29, 2024, to investigate alleged misconduct involving Knapp.
