Attorney General Alan Wilson announces charges against former State Election Commission Executive Director and former Deputy Director

(COLUMBIA, S.C.) – South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced today that former State Election Commission Executive Director Howard Knapp and former Deputy Director Paige Salonich have been charged with alleged crimes related to their conduct at the agency.

The Attorney General’s Office asked the State Law Enforcement Division to investigate, and SLED has now brought charges. The investigation is active and ongoing.

“While everyone charged with a crime is innocent until proven guilty, no one is above the law, and we won’t stand for taxpayers being exploited,” said Attorney General Wilson.

Knapp is charged with Accessory After the Fact, Misconduct in Office, Embezzlement of Public funds, Value less than $10,000, and eight counts of Use of Official Position or Office for Financial Gain.

Salonich is charged with Wiretapping.

The arrest warrants charge that, before a State Election Commission meeting to terminate Knapp, Salonich placed a personal recorder in the SCEC Commissioners’ meeting room to record the meeting, which led to the Wiretapping charge against her. The warrants state that Knapp later phoned SCEC employees to have them remove the recording device, thereby preventing​ the wiretapping from being discovered, which led to his charge of Accessory After the Fact.

Knapp is charged with Misconduct in Office for allegedly using state vehicles for personal use, and Embezzlement and Use of Official Position or Office for Financial Gain for allegedly using public funds to buy thousands of dollars of gas for the vehicles.

Knapp and Salonich were booked into the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center in Richland County.

The case will be prosecuted by the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office State Grand Jury Division.