Elections Chairman Resigns After Allegedly Stealing, Vandalizing Trump Yard Signs

"Trump-Pence" signs and banners are seen on a street in Olyphant, just outside Scranton, P
Eric Baradat/AFP/Getty Images

An elections chairman resigned Wednesday after he allegedly stole and damaged yards signs for President Donald Trump in Georgetown County, South Carolina.

A resident in Pawley’s Island put the signs on his lawn but they kept disappearing, according to WRAL.

“The resident put a deer camera in his yard and got photos of the person damaging a sign in his yard by writing ‘Dump’ over Trump’s name on his sign,” the report said.

Members of the Georgetown County Republican Party posted photos they received of the alleged vandal on social media in hopes of identifying the person.

They later received calls from people who named the person and also the individual who drove him from the scene.

“Authorities were able to determine that the person who stole and vandalized the signs was Dean Smith. An incident report states that the person who drove Dean Smith away was Dean’s spouse, Rita Smith,” the WRAL report stated.

The South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division said it will determine whether Smith and his wife will face charges.

Smith announced his resignation in a statement read aloud during the board of elections meeting Wednesday night, according to WMBF:

I regret that a brief lapse in judgement (sic) on my part might become a distraction to the conduct of this very important election. Therefore, I hereby resign from this Board effective immediately. It has been an honor and a privilege to work with all of you. I am very proud of the 15 years I have been involved in Georgetown County elections and am sorry that it has to end like this.

Karol Anderson, who chairs the county Republican Party, told the Coastal Observer the Smiths should be held accountable for their alleged actions.

“People with a lot of responsibility should have a lot of accountability,” she commented.

The former chairman’s term was set to expire on December 1, according to the WRAL report.

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