Ohio: East Cleveland Mayor, who survived two recall votes, indicted along with recalled and removed Councilmember

East Cleveland Mayor Mayor Brandon King, who survived recall votes in both 2022 and 2023, was indicted on a host of corruption charges, along with East Cleveland Councilman Ernest Smith, who was removed in a 2022 recall vote. 

The recalls, which involved numerous twists and turns, were over a kitchen sink of complaints, including a budget deficit, indicted police, corruption and "tall grass." The indictment claims that King authorized city contracts and payments to his own and his family's business. He also was accused of giving a car and gas card to Smith.

King first stepped into the position in a recall of then-Mayor Gary Norton.