Trammell was not suspended, he stepped down, lawyer says

SCLC said Trammell was removed as local board chairman, but attorney says he ‘stepped aside.’

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By Anthony Gottschlich, Staff Writer Updated 6:56 PM Wednesday, December 23, 2009

DAYTON — The Rev. Raleigh Trammell wasn’t forced out as board chairman of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference — he voluntarily stepped aside while allegations of mismanagement of funds are investigated, the civil rights leader’s attorney said Wednesday, Dec. 23.

“I advised him to step aside temporarily,” attorney Mia Wortham Spells of Dayton said. “They (the national SCLC) said they removed him.”

Spells said she and Trammell believe there was mismanagement of funds in the SCLC’s Dayton office, but it was at the hands of another SCLC employee who controlled the books. She said the employee, whom she declined to name, was using SCLC funds to settle personal bills.

Spells said when the employee learned Trammell was looking into the missing funds, the employee went to the national office with accusations against Trammell.

Spells said Trammell would hold a news conference after Christmas to talk about the matter.

The Atlanta-based SCLC could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

The group announced in a news release Monday that Trammell and SCLC Treasurer Spiver Gordon of Eutaw, Ala., were removed pending “an internal investigation into alleged claims of improprieties” against the two men. The release stated the SCLC would announce the findings of the investigation but wouldn’t comment until then “due to potential legal actions.”

The investigation began in October and includes a personnel matter involving an employee in the SCLC’s Dayton chapter office, according to the SCLC release.

Spells characterized the investigation and reports of Trammell’s removal as part of a power struggle within the SCLC. So did Trammell’s colleague in the SCLC and at the local Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance, the Rev. William Shanklin.

“There has been an attempt, but he has not been removed. You’re hearing rhetoric,” Shanklin said Tuesday.

The Rev. Sylvia Tucker was named acting board chairman for SCLC and Randall Gaines acting treasurer. Tucker said she would instill in the board “a firm commitment to transparency and accountability.”

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