Former Charleston City Councilman Faces 39 Campaign Finance Violations

Ex-Charleston City Councilman Harry Griffin Charged with 39 Campaign Finance Violations

In a developing story from Charleston, S.C., former city council member, Harry Griffin is now facing a total of 39 charges. These charges are related to violations of campaign finance backed by the South Carolina Ethics Commission. Amongst the allegations, it is reported that Griffin allegedly siphoned money from campaign accounts to his private account. The time frame for these purported activities stretches from 2017 to 2021, during which; Griffin served on the city council and had made his intentions to run for mayor known.

Outline of Ethics Charges Against Griffin

As per the obtained complaint, Griffin stands accused of the following:

• Thirty-one counts of utilizing campaign funds for personal use
• Five counts of nondisclosure of campaign contributions
• Two instances of excessive cash withdrawals from campaign accounts
• One count of not reporting campaign expenses

If found guilty of the above charges, Griffin could face various penalties including administrative and disciplinary actions, public reprimand, and a fine of no more than $2,000 per charge. When extrapolated to all charges, should the Ethics Commission choose to levy a fine for each, Griffin could be liable to a hefty sum of $78,000.

Further Details Surrounding the Filing

According to official documentation from the State Ethics Commission, Griffin allegedly transferred a sum of $11,595.92 into his personal account over the span of his public service term. The transfers varied from amounts as small as $4 to as large as $1,500. For instance, in May 2021, Griffin reportedly transferred $1,000 twice from campaign accounts directly into his private one. An earlier discrepancy dates back to 2017, where he allegedly cashed two cheques with a total value of $2,735.61.

Currently, Griffin has not publicly addressed these accusations and has not responded to requests for his side of the story. The Ethics Commission’s investigation started as a result of a complaint filed by Edward Sutton, a Democratic candidate for the state Senate District 20 seat – a Charleston-area seat- in August 2021.

Griffin’s Controversial Tenure

Griffin shot to public fame early, getting elected to the Charleston City Council at a young age of 22, thus becoming the youngest member to have ever been elected to the council. However, his tenure was not without controversy. During his term on the city council, Griffin had even called for a full audit of the mayor’s office back in May 2019 amid allegations of misspending by the then Mayor John Tecklenburg.

Griffin sought reelection following his four-year term but was unsuccessful, losing out to Stephen Bowden. His final year as a councilman was marred with controversy including being accused of supporting an event organized by right-wing activists and using insulting language against fellow council members. Griffin was arrested in 2021 on charges of driving under the influence, which were later dismissed.

A hearing to examine the allegations against Griffin for financial violations has been scheduled for June 20 at 9:30 a.m. in Columbia, South Carolina.