CLEVELAND — The fate of East Cleveland Mayor Brandon King now rests with a jury following a day of closing arguments in his criminal trial. The jury began deliberations Wednesday afternoon but left the courtroom without reaching a verdict. They are scheduled to reconvene Thursday morning.
King faces a total of 12 charges, which include both felonies and misdemeanors, such as theft in office and conflicts of interest concerning a public contract. His trial unfolded at the Cuyahoga County Justice Center, where both the prosecution and defense presented their final arguments to the jurors.
Prosecutors have accused King of diverting over $75,000 in municipal funds to businesses linked to his relatives. They allege he also improperly provided a city vehicle and numerous gas cards to former City Councilman Ernest Smith, who was removed from office in 2022. Smith is being tried alongside King for alleged theft and misuse of credit cards.
During the closing statements, prosecutors sought to depict King as an official whose actions demonstrated a blatant disregard for the rule of law. Assistant Cuyahoga County Prosecutor J.D. May characterized the situation as emblematic of a profound disdain for the responsibilities inherent in public office.
“This case highlights a fundamental disrespect for lawful governance and the principles that guide local government,” May asserted to the jury.
The defense countered the accusations, stating that King acted within his rights. His attorney, Charles Taylor, claimed that the lease agreement involving the city’s domestic violence program and a family-owned building was an autonomous transaction not subject to the council’s oversight. Taylor argued that there is insufficient evidence to prove King’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
“Mr. King did not have an unlawful interest in a public contract. This lease is a matter between two private entities,” Taylor explained. He stressed the necessity for prosecutors to establish every element of their case for a guilty verdict.
Prosecutors, however, maintained that evidence indicates King himself referred to the financial arrangement as a public contract. They pointed to budget documents from 2023 that included allocations for the domestic violence program, arguing that these records originated from the mayor’s office and served as the basis for city council’s financial appropriations.
As jurors prepare to resume their deliberations at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, the implications of the case could have significant ramifications for East Cleveland and its governance.
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