Complaint alleges 8th Circuit Solicitor David Stumbo received $36K

Complaint alleges 8th Circuit Solicitor David Stumbo received $36K in questionable auto-related public funds

Formal ethics filing raises questions about mileage reimbursements and use of public funds

By James Seidel
CC News Network

A formal complaint filed with the South Carolina State Ethics Commission alleges that 8th Circuit Solicitor David Stumbo received more than $36,000 in vehicle-related payments from public funds over a period of approximately three years, raising questions about whether those payments were properly categorized and lawful.

The complaint, submitted by Lee Granade and notarized in Richland County, accuses Stumbo of using his official position to obtain an economic benefit through recurring auto allowance and mileage-related payments drawn from both solicitor’s office and county accounts.

Allegations center on recurring payments

According to the filing, the payments were made over roughly 35 months and may not meet the legal standard for legitimate reimbursement under South Carolina ethics law. The complaint alleges that some of the funds may have been improperly treated as mileage reimbursement when they should have been reported as taxable income or compensation.

Supporting documents attached to the complaint include what appear to be transaction records from the solicitor’s office listing repeated payments labeled as “auto mileage,” many in the amount of $950 per month. The complaint argues that the consistency and structure of those payments raise questions about whether they reflect actual mileage or a fixed supplemental payment.

Mileage records included in filing

Additional records included in the filing outline reported mileage totals by year, including approximately:

• 7,308 miles in 2022
• 18,402 miles in 2023
• 17,622 miles in 2024
• 10,132 miles in 2025 (through midyear)

The complaint contends that these figures, when compared with the payments issued, warrant further scrutiny.

No findings issued

The filing further suggests that the alleged conduct could constitute violations of state ethics law, including misuse of public office for personal gain, and raises the possibility of additional concerns such as misconduct in office or breach of trust.

However, those assertions remain allegations made by the complainant and have not been adjudicated.

At this stage, no findings or determinations by the South Carolina State Ethics Commission are included in the document. The complaint represents a request for investigation and does not establish wrongdoing.

Request for comment

CC News Network has reached out to Solicitor David Stumbo for comment regarding the allegations, including questions about how the payments were categorized, documented, and reported. Any response will be added to this story.

The South Carolina State Ethics Commission has not publicly indicated whether it has opened a formal investigation into the matter.

This is a developing story.

About the Author

James Seidel

Administrator

About the CC News Network James Seidel: Publisher, Award Winning Journalist, Author. Investigator, Podcaster, Talk Show Host, and Music Producer. The CC News Network is a distinguished media company in the world of South Carolina News, Weather, Sports and True Crime. At the beginning, James Seidel was only known as Crime and Cask and well known for his relentless pursuit of truth and justice in the Alex Murdaugh trial. As a journalist, author, investigator, radio talk show host, and record producer he has made significant contributions to uncovering some of the most complex and high-profile criminal cases of our time.

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