Out of jail, ex-Pr. George's council member becomes another's chief of staff

Washington Post

5 days ago

Former Prince George's County council member Mel Franklin has landed a county job just weeks after his release from incarceration for stealing more than $100,000 from his campaign fund and then lying about it.
Franklin, 54, will be chief of staff for at-large council member Calvin S. Hawkins II, who has his own redemption arc of serving in the county. Before becoming a public servant, Hawkins, now in his 60s, served nearly six years in prison after being convicted of armed robbery at 21.
The pair have been friends for 25 years, making Hawkins keenly aware of Franklin's inner world, Hawkins said in a statement to The Washington Post.
'I know his heart and his character,' Hawkins said. 'Mel is deeply remorseful and knows he made a terrible mistake.'
Franklin did not return a request for comment. But on social media, he has posted about how grateful he was to be released from behind bars in time to watch his son graduate high school and serve in his new role.
'I look forward to this new opportunity to serve,' he posted on Facebook.
Franklin resigned from his county council seat last year after being charged in connection with his misuse of campaign funds. He pleaded guilty to two felony theft scheme charges and misdemeanor charges of embezzlement and perjury and was sentenced to a year in jail.
Franklin, an attorney, had previously found himself at odds with the law. In 2017, while serving on the county council, he pleaded guilty to driving under the influence in a crash that wrecked a government vehicle and injured two people. He was sentenced to probation and ordered to pay a fine.
Prince George's has positioned itself as a place for returning citizens, including former public officials.
Former county executive Jack B. Johnson served more than seven years in prison after pleading guilty to federal charges of extortion along with witness and evidence tampering in May 2011. His wife and former county council member, Leslie Johnson, pleaded guilty to corruption charges that same year to a felony charge of conspiracy to commit witness and evidence tampering in connection to her husband's case.
She was later hired by then-Prince George's State's Attorney Aisha N. Braveboy to help the office with returning citizens. At the time, Braveboy defended the hire as a way to lead by example to show the county's commitment to welcoming returning citizens.
Both Johnsons were in attendance at Braveboy's Juneteenth inauguration for county executive.
The county's history of offering fresh starts now extends to Franklin, according to state Del. Ashanti Martinez (D-Prince George's).
'If we are truly going to be a county that believes in reentry and second chances, we've got to mean just that,' Martinez said. 'This particular situation is so sensitive because of the layers. We will see.'
Still, Martinez said he understands why some may have questions about the swiftness in which Franklin became employed.
'I also don't have a barometer of what time would be appropriate,' Martinez said. 'That's what makes many of these reentry cases that we tackle in this county interesting, because with every crime, there is a victim. In this particular case, it was public trust.'