This is what downstate conservative propaganda channel WGMD went with this afternoon:
BREAKING & DEVELOPING: DSP Investigating Anonymous Letter Sent to DE House Members that Includes Criminal Allegations Against an Elected Official
WGMD News has learned that on Wednesday, June 13, the Delaware State Police received correspondence from the Delaware Legislature regarding an anonymous letter received by House members which included allegations of a serious criminal offense by another elected official.
DSP Director of Public Information Paul Shavack tells WGMD “the Delaware State Police Criminal Investigations Unit is actively investigating the credibility of the anonymous letter and the allegations it contained.”
WGMD News has made attempts to contact several people mentioned in the letter; we have not received any responses.
At this point, there is NO indication that any of the allegations in the letter are true, however DSP are investigating.
I have been given an overview of what is in the letter from a source. Apparently, the contents of the letter have been an open secret or a well traveled rumor in Sussex County Republican circles for the last two years, and involve all the star players of the Sussex County Republican Party. Indeed, if the contents of the letter are true, it will devastate the Sussex County Republican Party and ruin the careers of three prominent Sussex County Republicans, and possibly lead to their criminal indictments.
The anonymous letter was sent to every single member of the House of Representatives. It contains allegations that Sussex County Councilman Vance Phillips was involved with a minor female, aged 17 years old, two years ago, during the 2010 campaign. The implication is that this relationship was sexual, and I am told from another source that it was consensual.
I am told the letter goes into detail as to places and times where Phillips and the minor female were together. I am also told that this has been known in Republican circles of power downstate for some time. Indeed, allegedly, Glenn Urquhart knew about the affair, confronted Phillips about it, and, together with the minor female’s family, had her sent away to a religious school in another state.
The alleged affair colored the relationship between Phillips and Sheriff Jeff Christopher, who also may have known about the affair. Indeed, you recall the physical altercation between Phillips and Christopher over the Sheriff’s illegal and unconstitutional power grab? Well, allegedly, one of the witnesses of that altercation was the minor female’s grandfather. If this is all true, than that confrontation is seen in a whole new light.
The minor female is no longer a minor today. She is 19 now. We don’t know if the relationship is still going on.
Now, this all raises a number of questions.
1. Is any of it true?
The simple answer is I have no idea. I consider this all salicious rumor until we know otherwise. I am told that allies and/or supporters of Sheriff Christopher, Eric Bodenweiser, Don Ayotte and Doug Beatty, if not the men themselves, are behind the letter. Whether or not either of them actually wrote and sent the letter is unknown, and a matter of investigation now by the Delaware State Police. Given the cast of characters aforementioned, it is quite possible that none of this is true and that they are just trying to end the career of an opponent of Christopher’s power grab.
2. Even if true, is any of this a crime?
A number of commenters here and elsewhere are downplaying this, saying so what? It was allegedly consensual, and the girl won’t give a victim statement or press charges.
Well, statutory rape is a crime, no matter if it is consensual. Thus, allegations of such acts need to be investigated as such.
Delaware Code, Title 11, § 770 defines Fourth Degree Statutory Rape as “Intentionally engaging in sexual intercourse with someone who is less than 18 years of age where the defendant is 30 years of age or older.” The alleged victim was under 18 at the time of the alleged relationship, and Vance Phillips was most certainly 30 years older, being that he is in his 50’s now.
So yes, it is a crime, punishment for which is up to 10 years in prison.
And not reporting statutory rape is also a crime. Delaware Code, Title 16, § 903 mandates the reporting of child abuse, and statutory rape is included in the definition of child abuse. The same section requires all physical and mental health providers and any other persons who knows or in good faith suspects child abuse to report it to authorities. Allegedly, Glenn Urquhart, Jeff Christopher and a host of other prominent Sussex County Republicans knew about this and did not report it to authorities.
So yes, if this is all true, this is a very serious matter, and crimes have been committed.
3. Why now?
In my opinion, Christopher’s allies that are responsible for the anonymous letter care not that a crime has been committed, for if they did, they would have reported this to appropriate authorities much much sooner, like two years ago. No, this is being done now to damage Phillips and somehow, by extension, efforts to stop Christopher’s power grab. I don’t get that logic, but I guarantee you that is what is happening.
4. What now?
This is all now a matter of criminal investigation, so hopefully the truth will out. If the allegations are false, I hope those behind the letter pay dearly. If the allegations are true, I hope indictments are brought against all. I do worry about Vance Phillips’ mental state. He has been shunned in Teabagger circles (i.e. Republican circles) downstate due to his confrontations with Christopher. I have been told that many think his airplane crash in Virginia last year was not an accident, but a suicide attempt. Only he knows if that is true, but this is something that will have to be monitored as this all develops and the investigation proceeds.