A Democrat lawmaker in South Carolina who lost his bid for re-election in a June primary has been arrested on a gun-related charge stemming from an incident during the primary election on June 9, various media are reporting.
Representative Michael Frank Rivers (D-121st District) allegedly retrieved a gun from his car following what was described as a “verbal altercation” at the Green Pond Community Center, according to FITSNews, which broke the original story this past spring. Rivers has denied the incident.
First elected in November 2016, Rivers lost this year’s primary to fellow Democrat Shannon N. DeLoach, on a vote of 2,159-1,861.
The Post and Courier is reporting that Rivers was formally charged with “pointing and presenting a firearm,” a felony.
He was booked into the Colleton County Detention Center Friday, and was reportedly released on a $15,000 personal recognizance bond by Magistrate Roosevelt S. Jenkins. According to FITZNews, the
personal recognizance bond “means a defendant is not required to put up any money to secure his or her release from custody pending the adjudication of the charges against them.”
Rivers has a lifetime scorecard of 85% from the Conservation Voters of South Carolina.
The incident was investigated by the S.C. Law Enforcement Division (SLED).
WLTX News is reporting that Rivers’ attorney is fellow Democrat Rep. Seth Rose, who represents the state’s 72nd District. Rose released a statement on his client’s behalf: “Representative Rivers is asserting his innocence to this accusation levied against him by a political opponent. Michael has served admirably in the State Legislature and he is a retired member [of] United States military. He has been an upstanding citizen for nearly seven decades.”
