On Friday morning, October 24, 2025, Former South Carolina Elections Director Howard “Howie” Knapp and Deputy Director Paige Salonich were arrested by the State Law Enforcement Division.

Howard Knapp (40) is facing eleven charges:

• Eight charges related to the use of his official position for financial gain
• One charge on embezzlement of public funds
• One charge for misconduct in office
• One charge for accessory after the fact

Paige Salonich (41) is facing one charge:

• One charge of wiretapping

Howard Knapp’s bond was set for $75,000 and Paige Salonich’s bond was set for $25,000. Both bond requirements include that Knapp and Salonich cannot leave the state.

Howard Knapp and Paige Salonich have been scheduled to first appear in court on December 19, 2025.

Knapp was abruptly fired as the Elections Director by the State Election Commission with a 3-2 vote on September 17, 2025. Shortly after, Knapp’s right-hand woman, Deputy Director Paige Salonich, was also terminated. Since then, an alleged affair has surfaced regarding the two, with many internal sources calling the office a “toxic soap opera”. However, while Knapp and Salonich was fired, chief of staff Jenny Wooten McGill–who regularly accompanied the two–was appointed as interim director.

Knapp and Salonich are being investigated for wiretapping allegations after Salonich allegedly placing a “listening device” in the room where the election commission was meeting the day that Howard Knapp was fired. Knapp was still under a separate SLED investigation into “allegations of misconduct”. Both investigations are active and ongoing according to SLED’s Public Information Director Renée Wunderlich as of Friday evening, October 24, 2024.

State Election Commission (SEC) spokesman John Michael Catalano was allowed to resign earlier this month by SEC’s new interim director, Jenny Wooten, following an internal investigation following the firing of Knapp.

Two days ago, we launched an in-depth overview of the three-year lead up to this unraveling of the South Carolina State Elections Commission and Knapp’s demise that you can read HERE.

“This is all about politics,” Knapp’s long-time attorney, Joe McCulloch, simply stated following the bond hearing to reporters. “We look forward to a very public trial.”

Paige Salonich’s attorney, Catherine Hunter, declined to comment as she walked out of Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center with Salonich’s father.

Article posted with permission from Palmetto State Watch Foundation