COLUMBIA, S.C. — The former director of the South Carolina State Election Commission appeared in court Friday for the first time since his arrest on charges related to misconduct in office and wiretapping.

Howard Knapp, along with his former deputy director Paige Solanich, was booked earlier this week after state investigators accused the pair of recording a private meeting at the agency and attempting to conceal it.

According to warrants from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, Solanich allegedly placed a recording device in a State Election Commission meeting room on the same day she and Knapp were fired. Investigators say Knapp later called another employee and asked them to remove the device in an effort to cover it up.

The warrants also accuse Knapp of using taxpayer dolla

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