Kathleen McGuiness Verdict Thread – Guilty on 3 of 5 Counts

Filed in National by on July 1, 2022

McGuiness beat the felony charges of theft and witness intimidation, but was found guilty of Structuring, Misconduct, and Conflict of Interest.

Hopefully her political career (as a Democrat anyway) is over.

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Jason330 is a deep cover double agent working for the GOP. Don't tell anybody.

Comments (46)

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  1. Eakin says:

    Not sure why Lydia york waited so long to get in

    Might be to late

  2. jason330 says:

    My pre-verdict hot take is this. Many people of means are drawn to politics for all the wrong reasons. It is a social ladder. A pleasant way to spend one’s work life particularly if you are well-connected. McGuiness is one of those kinds of politicians. Throughout the trial it seemed clear to me that auditing was the last thing on Kathy’s mind as she grew increasingly testy with a staff that didn’t see her the way she saw herself – as someone fully entitled to use the auditors office and its staff to move upward and onward to whatever came next.

    • Rufus Y. Kneedog says:

      The verdict almost doesn’t matter. The voters of Delaware got what they deserved for putting her in office. This is not a row office, there are important responsibilities that have been neglected amidst the dysfunction for the past 4 years. The only thing to be thankful for is the opportunity to correct this in the primary 74 days from today.

  3. RE Vanella says:

    This entire process is now in the hands of 12 regular Kent Co citizens to come up with a result. If we get the call to get back to the courtroom I’ll update you all.

    Doesn’t necessarily mean a verdict. Juries can ask clarifying questions of the court, ask for testimony to be read back, and so forth.

  4. nathan arizona says:

    Nice graphic.

  5. Mike says:

    Perhaps good news! The jury has not returned with not guilty on all charges.

  6. RE Vanella says:

    Jury resumes deliberations at 09:30. No audio tonight. I will write a bulletin for consumption.

    We will be returning to the Green in Dover for bunch around 10:30. Tailgate situation. Wait on the citizens to decide what to do.

    If you’re in or around Dover, come find us.

  7. Rufus Y. Kneedog says:

    Is there a computer-savvy reader who can go back and re-publish her lengthy list of political endorsements from 4 years ago?

    • puck says:

      I’m more interested in seeing who endorses her this fall.

      • Kevin Ohlandt says:

        Hopefully there won’t be a fall! Any Delaware politician who would dare endorse her now is committing political suicide. Of course, McG will pretend this didn’t happen because her narcissistic and overblown ego will not allow it. Not saying that to be funny. Her mental capacity simply will not accept any form of defeat. She will have her family and friends continue to post about what a fantastic job she is doing on her State Auditor Facebook page. She could do the most heinous crime imaginable and her loyal followers would still defend her. It’s their right. They are wrong, but it’s a free country. This puts Pete Schwartzkopf in a pretty pickle though. His staunch defense of McG puts him in the crosshairs. If anyone was going to run against him NOW is the time. In the meantime I would hate to be anyone working in the auditor’s office from now until her eventual sentencing/voting out/impeachment. That’s when you will see the true Kathy McGuiness as I’m sure she will have a very epic public meltdown.

  8. Jason says:

    Conflict of interest. Guilty
    Theft. Not Guilty
    Structuring. Guilty
    Misconduct. Guilty
    Intimidation. Not Guilty

  9. Jason330 says:

    She beat the felony charges

  10. Yeah, but she’s been found guilty. Question is: Must she resign?

  11. jason330 says:

    I can’t see how she can continue in that job

    • Kevin Ohlandt says:

      But she probably will with her monstrous ego. I’m sure she will live in a narcissistic denial bubble until she is voted out later this year.

    • Well, she can continue doing the job she’s not doing. Nothing changes.

  12. Mike says:

    Has a sentencing date been scheduled?

  13. jason330 says:

    Wait…isn’t Structuring is a Class G felonies carrying a maximum sentence of two years?

  14. Did the General Assembly ever get that opinion on whether–and how–they can proceed with the impeachment of a public official?

  15. Arthur says:

    So basically she isn’t guilty of actual crimes just being an asshat

  16. Rufus Y. Kneedog says:

    The judge can still vacate right? I think he tosses the structuring at least. There are probably folks throughout state government right now saying, “Wait, what? That’s a crime? I thought it was just being efficient and avoiding red tape.”

    • This is precisely the same illegal act that Dick Cathcart engaged in when he was the procurement manager at Del State. Of course, back then, Beau Biden had no interest in upsetting the Delaware Way, and Tom Wagner had every interest in covering up Cathcart’s behavior.

  17. RE Vanella says:

    📸 by yours truly 🤓

    Jason… great to see you this morning

    Jerry Habraken’s photos on Delaware Online are very good….

    • jason330 says:

      Yes good seeing you and meeting Bill. I’d be eager to hear your wrap up. (Did team Kathy gasp audibly when she was found guilty on some charges?)

      Also, why am I so stingy with the photo credits. I have to look inward on that one.

      • RE Vanella says:

        Lol. Don’t care about the credit. Just showing off.

        No reaction in the courtroom. Judge Carpenter mildly reminded everyone before the jury came in about the three Capital police officers at the door. Zero tolerance policy.

        It’s a very small courtroom!

  18. RE Vanella says:

    Taking the holiday weekend off. We’ll record a wrap-up next week. Need a break

  19. Oof says:

    Absolutely love seeing John Carney take a stronger stand than Sean Lynn here

    • Carney’s stand wasn’t exactly ‘strong’.

      Agree on Lynn’s statement, though:

      “House Judiciary Chair Rep. Sean Lynn said in a statement that it “remains to be determined whether misdemeanor convictions on their own are enough to remove a public official from office.””

      Yes they are. We posted this earlier from the Delaware Constitution:

      “The Governor and all other civil officers under this State shall be liable to impeachment for treason, bribery, or any high crime or misdemeanor in office.”

      “…Or misdemeanor” sums it up.

  20. BTW, nobody in House leadership was ‘available for comment’.

    Did they all jet out of the country, or are they just not answering?

    A: They just weren’t responding, and they coordinated their non-response.

    Profiles in cowardice.

    Madinah Wilson-Anton, Eric Morrison and Kim Williams have all publicly called for KMG’s resignation.

  21. Joe Connor says:

    She will run, Pete and Val will campaign with her. She has campaign money. She will make new threats and if her opponent, Lydia York, is not flooded with support and resources she will win. The damage this will cause is incalculable. The only solution is to put a political stake in the heart of her career! Vote her ass out!

    • I don’t think there’s any way Pete ‘n Val will campaign with her.

      They want to stay in power. Backing KMG will cause them to lose their leadership positions.

      • Joseph Connor says:

        Well Val was on the House statement, but Pete was MIA. What are the chances he asks for a special session to remove her???

        • My guess is he’s probably, um, ‘back-channeling’ to her in an effort to convince her to step down.

          Otherwise, the sentiment against her will grow among the legislators, and he will probably have no choice but to start proceedings to remove her.