The constitutional council ruled that there was sufficient evidence of election fraud in the claim by third-year finance and economics student David Henao’s campaign. Courtney Tkacs and Jordan Richardson’s ticket is not allowed to campaign from 10 a.m. Feb. 26 to 10 a.m. Feb. 27 in response, including posting on social media. The other two cases were dismissed for insufficient evidence.
“I’m beyond relieved that the Constitutional Council affirmed that the Tkacs/Richardson campaign engaged in election fraud to gain an unfair advantage in the Student Body Presidential race. I started my campaign to show the students the corruption behind student government. Every step of the way, my campaign was discouraged and even blocked from taking these claims to be fairly adjudicated - by the Elections Commission, the Election Commissioner, and by Courtney Tkacs and Jordan Richardson,” Henao said in a statement.
Tkacs said she had been advised by her advisors to direct The Daily Gamecock to a university spokesperson. The university declined to comment.
All members of the elections commission declined to comment.
“Now that the student body knows the extent of the election fraud committed by the Tkacs/Richardson campaign, I hope they will keep a closer eye on student government and the injustices that have and continue to occur against me, our student organizations requesting funding from student government, and all students,” Henao said in a statement.
Henao and his counselors will be appealing the ruling that suspended the campaign’s social media presence.
Appeals are made through the Student Success Center rather than through the Constitutional Council.
“It’s an egregious violation and to give the Tkacs/Richardson campaign a slap on the wrist isn’t fair to the me, or the voters who already cast their ballot,” Henao said in a statement.
Opinions will be released by the Constitutional Council within 10 days. In the meantime, the elections of president and vice president will not be certified until all pending cases are addressed. A remaining case will be heard on Feb. 27 at the USC Law School at 7 p.m.