(AP) — South Carolina fired its election director as the state negotiates with President Donald Trump’s administration about how to fulfill a federal demand to turn over records, including personal data on all voters.

The chairman of the South Carolina State Election Commission gave no reason for the firing, which happened on a 3-2 vote with no discussion after a five-hour closed meeting, beyond a statement that said the board thought it was time for a change and it wasn’t because of any voting problems.

Howard Knapp was fired “effective immediately, expressing a desire for new leadership. The decision was unrelated to the conduct of any election in South Carolina,” said board chairman Dennis Shedd, a former federal judge appointed by President George H.W. Bush and a longtime aide for Re

See Full Page