East Cleveland Mayor Brandon King suspended amid corruption case

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EAST CLEVELAND, Ohio (WJW) -- A special commission of judges on Tuesday voted to immediately suspend East Cleveland Mayor Brandon King from office following his indictment on theft in office and related corruption charges.

The FOX 8 I-Team was first to report that King and East Cleveland councilman Ernest Smith were indicted in early October. King faces charges including:

• Two counts of theft in office
• Four counts of having unlawful interest in a public contract
• Four counts of representation by public official or employee
• One count of filing a false disclosure statement
• One count of soliciting improper compensation

Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael O'Malley requested a special commission of judges be appointed by the Ohio Supreme Court to determine whether King should be suspended amid his corruption case.

That panel, comprised of retired judges Lisa Sadler, William Finnegan and William Woods, on Dec. 10 voted 2-1 to remove King. The panel issued its final determination on Tuesday, ruling that the allegations against King relate to his position as mayor and that they "adversely affected the rights and interests of the public."

Prosecutors say King authorized a lease for the city's domestic violence department that was on property owned by his business. The cost was more than $14,100 per year, the I-Team reported in November.

The commission's ruling specifically points out a budget line item involving a lease with King's family business, which King vetoed, and which would have returned city funds back to his family's business had that veto not been overridden by council members.

Judge Woods argued in dissent that King should not be suspended while his criminal charges are pending. He wrote the aforementioned veto relates to a misdemeanor charge, and state statute requires an elected official's suspension to be based on a felony charge.

Judge Woods also noted that though the city began leasing space owned by King's family at 13308 Euclid Avenue in 2008, King did not join council until 2014 and did not become mayor until 2016.

Prosecutors also allege King improperly gave a city car and city gas cards to buy fuel to former East Cleveland councilman Ernest Smith. Smith faces charges including theft in office, theft, soliciting improper compensation and misuse of credit cards.