They have, in theory, at least four legal/ethical issues they may need to address. Not including Gerald Brady’s lingering farewell to Dover.
Presented to you in last name alpha order based on the (alleged) poopetrator’s name:
1. Rep. Andria Bennett-Perhaps nobody has made it so far on so little (professional) talent than Bennett. She was a terrible legislative aide, just terrible, who got her job b/c her daddy was a state rep and helped her to get it. She married a state rep after breaking up his marriage to the daughter of a state senator. After at least two DUI’s, her state rep/husband left office and was replaced by his doting spouse. At the end of 2020, it turns out that he had reported her for spousal abuse. The cops hid the report until FOIA’d on it, but the (alleged) battered husband dropped the charges. Somehow, this has all translated into a cushy job with the City Of Dover as the Chief Administrator for the Dover City Council, which she filled in December.
It appears that (a) she cannot legally hold the job with Council and the office of State Representative at the same time; and (b) even if granted some sort of unwarranted pass on the conflict, she would have to resort to DeLuca-like tactics to justify getting paid twice for work she couldn’t possibly carry out. Hey, maybe she could name Brad as her assistant to, you know, keep all the ill-gotten dough in what passes for the family. Kinda like the DuPonts.
So. Will she announce her resignation in January? If not, will anyone file a challenge to her remaining in the General Assembly? Will a legal opinion either from the AG or the courts be sought? Bennett has supported the Kop Kabal (which is why she heads committees for which she is clearly unqualified), and has been a staunch Chamber of Commerce and anti-gun safety ally.
What I think should happen: She should announce her resignation, effective the end of January. That way, a special election can be held during the break for JFC hearings to replace her. Failing that, someone (or some someones) should call for an Ethics Committee investigation and should request an opinion from the courts or the AG.
2. Sen. Darius Brown. We know about both the incident at Taverna and his meltdown with Rep. Melissa Minor-Brown. He clearly has anger issues, not unlike those of former State Rep and former Wilmington Mayor Dennis C. Williams. No sanctions befell Williams for his outbursts and threats and, trust me, we all/heard saw his extra chromosome tirades in action. Unlike Williams, at least Brown wasn’t a police officer with a firearm to brandish as he saw fit. I know he’s been convicted in the court of public opinion, but his offenses are relatively minor IMO.
What I think should happen: He should be stripped of all remaining committee assignments for the duration of his term, and then let the voters decide his political fate. I don’t think it benefits the Senate Democratic Caucus to just kick him out. I don’t believe his behavior rises to the level to justify expulsion. Legislators have skated on far worse offenses.
3. State Auditor Kathy McGuiness. She’s disgraced her office. She’s violated her oath of office. She has used her office to benefit at least one family member, and to write ‘reports’ to spec for her independent pharmacy buddies, reports having nothing to do with the functions of her office. She refused to conduct an audit on that Greek-influenced charter school and instead demanded that the General Assembly provide extra funding for the audit to be done. She has been indicted on multiple charges, including felonies. Despite her relentless PR campaign, she is even more incapable to carry out the duties of State Auditor than she was before she was indicted (and tried to stick the taxpayers with her legal tab).
Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf is hopelessly compromised on this matter. Not only was McGuiness his first campaign treasurer, he has been the key supporter of her entire political ascendancy, and has hosted joint fundraisers with her. He simply must recuse himself from any deliberations concerning her.
What I think should happen. The General Assembly should, once it receives the opinion from former Supreme Court Justice Randy Holland, immediately take steps to remove her from office ASAP. It doesn’t matter whether she ultimately is found guilty or not. She has misused her office, she has engaged in blatant nepotism, and she continues to demonstrate through her Bizzarro World media that she is incapable of functioning in elective statewide office. I hate to say it, but she’s nuts. Speaker Pete must recuse himself. And, if there indeed remains an enterprising journalist in Delaware, they should do a deep dive into the ties between McGuiness and Schwartzkopf. Be sure to include the Department of Elections written-to-spec decision on how Park City Kathy was eligible to run for office. That has Schwartzkopf stink all over it.
4. State Rep. Steve Smyk. Another guy inextricably linked to Schwartzkopf:
A lawsuit filed by a female former Delaware State Police trooper accuses police officials of ignoring years of sex discrimination and harassment, implicates current state Rep. Stephen Smyk as one her harassers and claims overtime fraud occurs in the police unit that protects the governor.
The lawsuit was filed last week in federal court by former Sgt. Nicole Oldham, who worked as a state trooper for more than 15 years. The suit states she was denied benefits and work available to her male counterparts and that she was the subject of sex-based smear campaigns by male officers who went undisciplined by leadership.
Oldham began her career with Delaware State Police in 2002, becoming a barrier-breaking female in the department where male officers currently outnumber women almost seven to one, the lawsuit states. She was voted class president of her police academy, began ranking up faster than her academy counterparts and was a nominee for trooper of the year by 2004.
One of the earliest examples listed in the lawsuit involves Smyk, who had a decades-long career with Delaware State Police, is the past president of the influential Delaware State Troopers Association and is currently representing the Milton area in the Delaware House of Representatives. Reached by text message, Smyk declined to comment saying he had not read the complaint.
The lawsuit states that “early” in Oldham’s career,” Smyk, then a state trooper, circulated an email falsely stating that she conducted a traffic stop with her child in her car and the car was stolen.” In the email, Smyk wrote that this “FEMALE trooper” should not be on the job and indicated he was reporting this to help out his “brothers” in state police, the lawsuit states.
One of those ‘brothers’ being Trooper Pete. The ‘brothers’ alleged that this highly-decorated officer earned a promotion thusly:
In 2013, she was assigned to the State Police’s Executive Protection Unit, which is charged with protecting the governor, lieutenant governor and their families. She was the first woman named by merit to lead the unit, the lawsuit states.
When she was promoted to the division, male troopers placed a photograph and a message in her mailbox claiming she earned the prestigious position by performing oral sex on Delaware House Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth Beach, who is also retired from state police.
The lawsuit claims that officers on the unit are typically afforded a free housing benefit, but when she asked for that benefit, a lieutenant told another male sergeant, “she can suck my d*ck.”
It goes w/o saying that Speaker Pete is again hopelessly compromised on this issue. He was in a position to know of Smyk’s actions back when he was a Troop Commander, but apparently did nothing; and he’s been unfairly implicated in helping her to gain a promotion, which would render him less than impartial.
What I think should happen. Smyk’s on three committees dealing with law enforcement. He should be removed from those committees pending the outcome of the civil suit since it’s a blatant conflict-of-interest for him. And, if there’s any kind of settlement of that civil suit leading to the cops, taxpayers, and/or Smyk paying out any of the settlement costs, someone should file a complaint before the House Ethics Committee and demand that anybody other than three Kop Kabal members hear the complaint.
I’m writing this now because there’s so much unfinished legislative business awaiting the General Assembly’s return next week that I didn’t want this to get lost in the shuffle. I hope it doesn’t.