PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, Md. — The Prince George’s County Council has voted to hold a special election to fill Mel Franklin’s now vacant seat.
In a vote held on Tuesday, the council unanimously decided to hold the Special Primary Election on Tuesday, August 6, 2024 and the Special Election on Tuesday, November 5, 2024.
Franklin served as the councilman representing District 9 from 2010 to 2018, and he was the At-Large councilman representing all of Prince George's County from 2018 until his resignation. On June 20, WUSA9 reported that Franklin is being charged with embezzlement and perjury.
According to charges filed on Thursday, from 2020 to at least October 2023, Franklin is accused of embezzling $124,450 from the "Friends of Mel Franklin" campaign account by moving the money electronically or by writing checks to his personal bank account. Detectives say Franklin used the funds from the campaign account to pay for personal loans and credit card debt, his personal rent, personal subscriptions and cosmetic procedures for him and a friend.
In one instance, investigators charged that Franklin spent funds on a 'one-night stay' in an executive suite at the Gaylord National hotel in National Harbor. Less than a year later he reportedly spent campaign funds on a hotel room at The Westin in the same area.
He is alleged to have moved money from the campaign account to a friend, used the debit card associated with the campaign account to fund personal hotel-stays and cosmetic procedures for a friend, and made a deposit from the campaign account for an international trip in 2024. Franklin also paid off his personal credit card and paid for the upkeep of his personal car using the stolen funds, court documents say.
Candidates interested in running for Franklin's vacant seat must submit all proper paper work by July 5 with the Board of Elections.
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