COLUMBIA, S.C., South Carolina gubernatorial candidate Mullins McLeod escalated his feud with state Democratic leaders this week, arguing in a new court filing that his May arrest was unlawful while accusing party officials of corruption for urging him to withdraw. McLeod, a Charleston attorney and longtime Democratic activist, has faced pressure to suspend his campaign since police released dash-cam video showing him shirtless and yelling in the back of a cruiser for more than 30 minutes.
McLeod insists the charge of disorderly conduct should be dismissed, claiming officers stopped him without cause as he rehearsed a political speech near his home. His attorney, Scott Bischoff, said body-camera footage contradicts police claims that McLeod was “yelling at the top of his lungs” or partially undressed, arguing the arrest violated several legal standards. The campaign has also requested an internal affairs investigation into more than a dozen alleged procedural violations.
Tensions deepened after state Democratic Party Chair Christale Spain urged McLeod to prioritize his “mental and emotional well-being,” which he called evidence of insider corruption and an attempt to disenfranchise voters. His primary opponent, Rep. Jermaine Johnson, dismissed McLeod’s accusations as “baseless shots” driven by personal frustration.
McLeod, who helped negotiate the $88 million settlement for families of the Emanuel AME Church shooting victims, is largely self-funding his bid for the 2026 governor’s race. No Democrat has won statewide office in South Carolina since 2006, underscoring the uphill path ahead as the primary remains six months away.
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