A dramatic turn of events for Honolulu City Councilman Tom Berg.  On Thursday, the Campaign Spending Commission cleared him of using a former staff member to work on his campaign.

Berg could have been hit with nearly $30,000 in fines for alleged campaign finance violations.

Now, the man behind the allegations could wind up in trouble.  Berg's former chief of staff, Eric Ryan, brought the charge against the councilman.

The Campaign Spending Commission agreed with the evidence Berg presented showing the councilman never directed Ryan to campaign on his behalf.

Ryan maintains the commission failed to review all of the evidence after having trouble opening an email attachment he sent from Los Angeles.

"Eric Ryan's sole intent was to hurt me," said Berg.  "I fired the man; I let him go.  Eric Ryan is a very bad man."

Ryan responded, "I'm beside myself what happened today.  The fact that they openly admit they didn't review all the evidence."

The commission fined Berg $250 for failing to report two online contributions as well as the purchase of an email voter list.