Greenwood County and two of its council members, Robbie Templeton and Chairman Theo Lane, are facing a $250,000 pre-suit settlement demand delivered by Aaron Kahn on August 4. Kahn, who operates the Facebook-based PIG News outlet, alleges that council members used their official positions to publicly attack his credibility, mischaracterize a law-enforcement review, and restrict his ability to respond. He contends this amounts to retaliation, reputational harm, and violations of his constitutional rights, including civil-rights and First Amendment violations such as viewpoint discrimination.
The demand stems largely from a contentious July 21 Greenwood County Council meeting. During this meeting, Council member Templeton cut Kahn’s microphone, and Chairman Lane was captured on a hot microphone referring to the episode as a clown show. Kahn’s initial demand on August 4 named Templeton and Greenwood County. Following Lane’s public defense of Templeton and criticism of Kahn’s allegations at the August 18 council meeting, Kahn posted a revised demand adding Lane as a prospective defendant. The revised demand challenges Lane’s descriptions of Templeton as exonerated and the allegations as baseless and meritless, asking for supporting SLED records or public corrections.
The July 21 incident occurred as the council gave a third reading to a data center moratorium. Templeton, presiding with the consent of Lane and Vice Chairman Dayne Pruitt, moved the moratorium vote before public comment. Kahn sought additional speaking time under Greenwood County Code Section 2-2-9, which outlines procedures for appearing on council agendas. Templeton stated Kahn missed the deadline and limited him to three minutes. During his allotted time, Kahn questioned Templeton about alleged criminal investigations, which Templeton deemed off-agenda. Templeton ended Kahn’s comments, stating Kahn had told law enforcement his goal was to go overtime and be removed. Kahn disputes this claim. After his microphone was cut, Kahn remained at the podium, tearing fake currency during a recess.
Kahn’s demand identifies PIG News as a trade name of TipTopQualityX LLC, a South Carolina limited-liability company formed in 2024. Kahn identifies himself as the founder and editor-in-chief of PIG News. The demand also identifies Ashaley Boatwright as Kahn’s attorney in pending criminal matters, though Boatwright’s license to practice law was suspended on an interim basis on June 10 by the South Carolina Supreme Court following State Grand Jury indictments for multiple felonies, including trafficking marijuana and money laundering. These charges are allegations and have not resulted in a conviction.
Greenwood County Public Information Officer Abby Banks confirmed Kahn delivered the formal settlement demand on August 4. Banks stated on August 12 that the county was not aware of any formal lawsuits and would not comment further due to the threat of potential litigation. The county’s response to Kahn’s revised demand remained consistent, with no updated information.
Kahn’s dispute with Templeton extended to a July 29 PIG News post about a potential homemade explosive device found outside Kahn’s Laurens County residence, which he connected to alleged retaliation. Laurens County Sheriff’s Office records, however, show deputies responded on July 28 and classified the report as Unfounded, identifying the object as a used cluster of fireworks. Deputy Courtney Snow stated the object was definitively not a bomb and that the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office concluded its involvement without forwarding the matter to SLED.
Prior to SLED’s involvement, Kahn publicly claimed Templeton was under multiple active law-enforcement investigations. SLED stated the Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office did not request its involvement until July 27, and clarified on July 31 and August 4 that the matter was a review, not a SLED investigation. SLED closed its review on August 6 with no charges. The 8th Circuit Solicitor’s Office also confirmed on August 11 it had no open review involving Templeton. Despite these clarifications, Kahn continued to post on August 18 that Templeton was under investigation, stating he was operating under an assumption.
At the August 18 council meeting, Chairman Lane delivered a statement defending Templeton, describing him as exonerated and Kahn’s allegations as baseless and meritless, made with malice. Templeton also spoke, stating there was never an investigation, only an inquiry that opened on July 27 and closed on August 6. Templeton indicated discussions with his attorney about next steps. Both of Kahn’s settlement proposals sought a written response by 5 p.m. on August 25.
