The trial of suspended East Cleveland Mayor Brandon King began Monday with jury selection, following accusations of multiple criminal activities during his tenure. According to Cleveland19, King faces charges including theft in office and having an unlawful interest in a public contract. The proceedings, initially postponed from May 5 due to a recusal request against Judge Hollie Gallagher, now move forward following the Ohio Supreme Court's decision allowing her to continue presiding over the case.
In a bold move, King turned down a plea deal that would've significantly reduced his charges. The proposed deal included dropping most charges in exchange for King's resignation and his agreement not to run for political office for seven years. Despite the implications, opening arguments are set to start Tuesday after King rejected this offer. As reported by WKYC, if convicted on all charges, the 57-year-old could face multiple years in prison.
Allegations against King detail the misuse of East Cleveland's funds, funneling over $75,000 to companies connected to his family. These actions included authorizing contracts and payments through the city to businesses in which he and his family members held stakes, said Prosecutor Michael C. O'Malley in a statement acquired by Cleveland19. This purported misuse of public contracts includes leasing space for the city's Domestic Violence Department in a building owned by King's company and buying cleaning supplies from another family-owned business.
Alongside King, former councilman Ernest Smith was accused of using a city vehicle and purchasing over $6,000 worth of fuel with city-issued gas cards, according to WKYC. Both King and Smith have pleaded not guilty to the charges. King and his attorney, Charles Tyler, have suggested that the charges are politically motivated, with Tyler filing a motion to dismiss three charges, claiming King's "legislative process" should exempt him from prosecution. Judge Gallagher has since expressed displeasure over such tactics, as reported by Cleveland.com.
The city of East Cleveland, meanwhile, braces for the impact of this trial. With the mayoral seat hanging in the balance and the next regular election slated for November, the unfolding courtroom drama promises to be a critical chapter in the history of East Cleveland's governance. Following King's suspension from office, Cuyahoga County Probate Judge Anthony Russo appointed Sandra Morgan as interim mayor, bypassing other city officials who claimed rights to the office based on the city charter.
