Arrest video of Charleston lawyer, governor candidate prompts calls to drop out
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) – The South Carolina Democratic Party has called for its only candidate for governor to drop out of the race following the release of police video of his arrest in May.
That video, released by the Charleston Police Department, shows the arrest of a prominent Lowcountry attorney Mullins McLeod, who announced his candidacy for the Democratic primary for governor on Monday.
In the video, McLeod uses a racial slur, profanity and goes on an hour-long rant, prompting the South Carolina Democratic Party to release a statement it attributes to its chair, Christale Spain:
Mullins McLeod is a skilled attorney, a former county Democratic Party chair who worked tirelessly for our values, and a member of a proud Lowcountry family with a long tradition of public service.
After reviewing the transcript of the dash cam footage from his recent arrest, it is clear that Mr. McLeod is navigating profound challenges and should focus on his mental and emotional well-being instead of a campaign for governor.
We offer him compassion and pray he finds the support he needs.
Charleston Police responded to the Battery on May 2 for a report of a man in his underwear yelling and causing a disturbance. Officers found a man, later identified as McLeod, and placed him in the back of the police cruiser.
Once inside that cruiser, cameras were rolling as McLeod launched into an hour-long diatribe. Sometimes speaking to officers and sometimes speaking to no one at all, McLeod’s conversation ranged from berating officers and using profanity to calmly talking about legal cases or conversations he’s had with prominent figures.
Much of the scene is unhinged, unintelligible, and difficult to make out. At one point, he used a racial slur, but who or what he was talking about is unclear.
EDITOR’S NOTE: The following video contains graphic language that viewers may find offensive. Viewer discretion is strongly advised.
In other moments, he spoke about his run for governor, specifically calling out Attorney General Alan Wilson. Wilson is also running for governor.
“I want to kick his teeth in, all right? And I’m going to kick him in. The world can decide what happens next to my friend Alan Wilson, the people’s lawyer,” McLeod said. “And Alan, you dumb [censored], I know you’re not good. You never are [unintelligible]. You’re too [censored] stupid to read.”
Wilson’s campaign released the following response:
The first Democrat to join the governor’s race said he wants to “kick my teeth in.” I am going to give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he means in a general election, not a street fight. My plan for bold, conservative leadership is spreading, and my record of defending President Trump, parental rights, and the rule of law has put a target on my back. But we’re not slowing down, and I’m not done fighting for South Carolina families.
McLeod’s campaign declined an interview but did release a statement calling the arrest unlawful and alleging that portions of the video have “recently been circulated in an attempt to damage McLeod’s candidacy and reputation.” The campaign said Mullins will hold a press conference to address the arrest video in the coming weeks.
“The people of South Carolina deserve the truth and deserve leaders who will stand up against abuse of power,” McLeod said in the statement. “I look forward to setting the record straight, closing this chapter, and focusing on the real issues facing our state.”
Copyright 2025 WCSC. All rights reserved.
