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by WILL FOLKS
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Mere weeks after being arrested during what appears to have been some sort of psychotic break, prominent Charleston, South Carolina attorney Mullins McLeod is launching a bid for governor of the Palmetto State.
That’s right… two months after being apprehended by police wearing nothing but his underwear during a late night episode in downtown Charleston, McLeod is touting his “strong values,” “clear vision” and “new leadership” on a campaign website for governor.
“This campaign will not fall on soft ears in Columbia,” McLeod said in announcing his candidacy. “The establishment and their corporate friends will come at me with everything they got. I want you to know that no matter how much they attack me, try to stop me or try to silence me I will not stand down. I have prepared my entire adult life for what lies ahead.”
Is the bench for statewide Democrat candidates really this short? Apparently so…
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Mere weeks after appearing to experience some sort of psychotic break, prominent S.C. attorney @MullinsMcLeod is mounting a campaign for governor of South Carolina after all. We knew @SCDP had a short bench when it came to candidates but… pic.twitter.com/n6O5VjT1pf
— FITSNews (@fitsnews) July 18, 2025
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McLeod, 53, is one of the Palmetto State’s wealthiest, most prominent trial lawyers – and prior to his recent arrest was viewed as the Democratic frontrunner for the 2026 gubernatorial nomination. In fact, he was reportedly days away from launching his candidacy when things suddenly unraveled in his personal life.
According to a Charleston Police Department incident report (.pdf) provided to FITSNews, an unnamed individual – later identified as McLeod – was “observed walking along the battery screaming” on the evening of Wednesday, May 14, 2025. His screams, per the report, could be heard from “approximately one city block away.”
McLeod was “observed to be wearing only his underwear and shoes” at the time, and when officers attempted to ascertain the reason for his bizarre behavior he “began yelling louder and locking out his arms.” Asked for his name, McLeod claimed he was “God” and “Superman.”
As he was being booked, McLeod allegedly “continued to ramble incoherently and at one point lashed out and kicked another prisoner.”
Officers initially suspected McLeod to be high on drugs, but his attorney has disputed that contention.
Frankly, McLeod being high as a kite would have made more sense than the alternative…
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RELATED | TOP 2026 CANDIDATE ARRESTED
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Despite the bizarre behavior which led to his arrest (and a subsequent disorderly conduct charge), McLeod apparently believes he is still a viable statewide candidate – and has launched his campaign as a supposed bulwark against the “money, greed and corruption that has poisoned state government.”
“Over the last 25 years the political establishment has allowed these large corporations to rig the system to favor their own self-serving financial interests,” McLeod wrote on his campaign website.
While no one will deny South Carolina is home to all manner of anti-competitive, market-distorting crony capitalism (which FITSNews has consistently railed against), that’s pretty rich rhetoric coming from one of the state’s wealthiest trial lawyers. If anyone is (still) calling the shots in the Palmetto State, it’s McLeod’s allies in the trial lawyer lobby – something that was made abundantly clear during the most recent session of the S.C. General Assembly.
“Money, corruption and greed has been doing a lot of winning in Columbia,” McLeod said.
He’s got that right… the only problem is his trial lawyer allies are the ones doing most of the winning.
In fact, McLeod’s announcement referred to his position as a plaintiff’s lawyer as “for-profit public service.”
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In announcing his own gubernatorial candidacy last month, South Carolina’s top prosecutor Alan Wilson pointed out the Palmetto State’s anti-competitive legal climate is one of key things keeping employers from bringing jobs and investment here.
“I have spoken to businesses all over this country,” Wilson said. “One of the things they mention when talking about whether or not they want to set up shop in South Carolina is the litigation climate in our state.”
Status quo incumbent Henry McMaster is constitutionally prohibited from seeking another term in office in 2026. Wilson is one of three Republican candidates who have formally announced their intentions to succeed him, along with lieutenant governor Pamela Evette of Travelers Rest and state senator Josh Kimbrell of Boiling Springs. U.S. congressman Ralph Norman is launching his candidacy later this month, and U.S. congresswoman Nancy Mace is expected to announce her candidacy soon.
On the Democrat side, state representative Jermaine Johnson of Hopkins, S.C. has announced his intention to seek the governorship.
Worth noting? Democrats have not fielded a competitive candidate for governor in more than a decade. They haven’t won a statewide race since 2006 and haven’t won a governor’s race since 1998. In other words, barring a seismic shift in the state’s electorate, this race will be won or lost in the GOP primary election next June.
This story may be updated.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR…
Will Folks is the founding editor of the news outlet you are currently reading. Prior to founding FITSNews, he served as press secretary to the governor of South Carolina. He lives in the Midlands region of the state with his wife and eight children.
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12 comments
If given a choice between this guy and McBastard, I would vote for this guy. He can’t be much worse than the cast of clowns currently running.
He has to continue . He can’t quit or give up .
That was not a psychotic Break
He clearly had been up for 3-4 days most likely took to much Adderal .
He is sure to have a prescription for it but has built up a tolerance and is abusing it .
Impossible to ignore That Naked mug shot with his mouth half opened and crazy eyes . It’s not gonna disappear
He will recover but damn what a screw up
Adderall is not particularly known for doing that to users, even abusive ones.
And even if that was the case here, McLeod might as well be out staining motel pillows with Andrew Gillum.
“McLeod allegedly continued to ramble incoherently and at one point lashed out and kicked another prisoner”
Incoherence, rambling and lashing out at others – the perfect Democrat candidate!
As with all Republicans, accusation is confession.
Now, what politician am I thinking of that best exemplifies incoherent rambling and lashing out at others? Hint: He definitely did not send a really bizarre birthday card to Jeffrey Epstein, and his uncle taught the Unabomber at MIT when he was secretly enrolled there. (Caution, MIT says the Unabomber was never enrolled there, but we know they are lying because this guy asked his uncle what kind of student Kaczynski was at least a decade before the authorities figured out Kaczynski was the Unabomber.)
Joe would have broken out in full DEMtantrums too, if he wasn’t too medicated. (But then again, Joe finished at the top half of his class, with 2 degrees, the only one with a full scholarship and was Poly Sci Student of the Year – so yeah, there’s always that, isn’t there?)
Kamala always takes the more relaxed route with Pinot and Xanax, and masks her rage with endless chortling. Gosh, if only we had her negotiating with Putin instead of Trump.
What a total Shit Show he is. Looney Tunes!
His candidacy has the potential to be the shortest-lived in SC history. With Mr. Kimbrell a close second ….
Is he single? I know a congress woman near by that would be a great match.
(and Coldplay’s in Nashville day after tomorrow.)
No investigation for attorney Rules of Professional conduct violations?
Why bother. The investigators are not trustworthy, either.
I guess he had an unlawful arrest. Poor thing…..he’s not getting my vote he makes my stomach turn