A former Prince George’s County Council member is out of jail and now serving as the chief of staff for another lawmaker from his old chamber.
Jamel “Mel” Franklin announced his return to politics on social media last week, saying he was working under council member Calvin Hawkins, roughly a month after he was released from jail following his corruption conviction for using campaign cash for personal reasons.
“I look forward to this new opportunity to serve. Thank you Councilmember Hawkins!” Franklin wrote in a July 22 social media post.
The Washington Times called a cellphone number last associated with Franklin, who is serving three years of supervised probation, but did not receive an answer. The Times also contacted Mr. Hawkins for comment.
A council spokesperson shared a statement from Mr. Hawkins, in which the at-large Democrat said he and Franklin have been close friends for 25 years and “I know his heart and his character.”
“Mel is deeply remorseful and knows he made a terrible mistake. He owned up to it, apologized, and has paid his dues. Now it’s time for his second act,” Mr. Hawkins said, adding that Franklin’s “contrition was sincere and evident, and his call to serve still shone brightly. In that moment, I was moved to offer him the role as my Chief of Staff.”
Mr. Hawkins said he believes in redemption following his own run-in with the law decades ago. He has spoken openly about how he mugged people to fund a drug habit in 1983 when he was a college senior. Court records show he was convicted of armed robbery that same year in the District and spent nearly six years behind bars.
The council spokesperson said Franklin began working for Mr. Hawkins on July 14 and brings in a salary of $72,000.
Maryland Matters first reported Franklin’s new role with the council.
Franklin, 50, pleaded guilty last year to theft and perjury charges for using more than $133,000 in campaign contributions to pay for dinners, hotels, personal trips abroad and even cosmetic procedures for himself and a friend. He also used the money to pay down credit card debt and cover his rent.
Prosecutors said the scheme lasted between 2014-23 because Franklin was the only person with access to his Friends of Mel Franklin campaign committee’s finances, allowing him to act as the de facto committee treasurer.
Franklin abruptly resigned from his council position last June before the charges were made public. His resignation ended a 14-year tenure in Prince George’s politics in which he served as the District 9 representative on the council before being twice elected as an at-large Democrat.
During his November sentencing hearing, Franklin apologized for his actions while his defense team sought to avoid jail time for the crimes.
The hearing included letters of support from Prince George’s County Council Chairman Edward Burroughs III and State Sen. Joanne Benson. Neither could be reached for comment on this story.
Anne Arundel County Circuit Court Judge Mark Crooks ultimately handed down separate five-year sentences for the theft and perjury convictions, but suspended almost the entire prison term except for one year on the theft conviction. The former lawmaker will remain on probation for the next three years.
Franklin’s attorneys said they would pursue a sentence modification, which appears to have been granted since Franklin was back on social media by mid-June — about seven months after he went to jail.
