State auditor Kathleen McGuinessâ former chief of staff took the stand Thursday to discuss his participation in the investigation that led to McGuinessâ indictment. Instead, he spent most of his time detailing a relationship he had with a subordinate staffer. Thomas Van Horn said during Day 6 of the criminal corruption trial that he was shocked when he was forced …
McGuiness’ daughter testifies in auditor corruption trial
Prosecutors called State Auditor Kathleen McGuinessâ daughter to the stand Wednesday to testify about her employment with the office, her personal bank account and her use of a state-owned vehicle. Elizabeth âSaylarâ McGuinessâ testimony followed that of Christie Gross, a political consultant to whom McGuiness is accused of structuring payments to avoid regulator oversight. McGuiness is defending herself against multiple …
Current, former employees testify in McGuiness trial
The trial of State Auditor Kathy McGuiness kicked off Tuesday with testimony from one current and one former employee. Both employees worked as auditors under former State Auditor Tom Wagnerâs tenure, prior to McGuinessâ election. After McGuiness took over, staff meetings began with employees being asked to recite the office motto, âconfidentiality,â they said. Prosecutors hope to establish that McGuiness …
McGuiness trial day 3 features daughter’s friend, accounting director
Prosecutors continued calling witnesses during the third day of the trial against State Auditor Kathleen McGuiness. First to take the stand was Virginia Bateman, a friend of McGuinessâ daughter, both of whom were employed by the Office of the Auditor as casual seasonal employees in 2020. Much of Batemanâs testimony surrounded a recorded tape of a June 2021 phone conversation …
After months of waiting, McGuiness trial off to a slow start
State prosecutors called on three witnesses Wednesday to detail Auditor Kathy McGuinessâ alleged habit of surveilling employeesâ emails, as well as the lack of emails sent to and by her daughter who worked in the office, and the way a consulting group was paid. McGuiness is charged with two felonies and multiple misdemeanors alleging conflict of interest, felony theft, non-compliance …
Prosecutors continue calling witnesses in McGuiness trial
Prosecutors continued to call witnesses Wednesday on day two of testimony in the trial of State Auditor Kathleen McGuiness. The jury entered the courtroom more than an hour behind schedule because of technological difficulties. RELATED: Trial of Auditor Kathy McGuiness begins in Dover McGuiness sat quietly at the defense table while employees from the Department of Technology and Information detailed …
McGuiness trial expected to begin Tuesday in Dover
Jury selection in the case against State Auditor Kathleen McGuiness has been set for Monday in Kent County. Assuming jury selection goes according to plan, court officials expect opening arguments to begin Tuesday. The trial was moved from Wilmington to Dover after McGuiness’s defense attorney objected to hearing the case in a different county than the auditor’s office. McGuiness was …
Auditor McGuiness reindicted in Kent County
A Kent County grand jury on Monday re-indicted State Auditor Kathleen McGuiness after prosecutors abandoned an earlier indictment in New Castle County. McGuiness has again been charged with two felonies and three misdemeanors: Conflict of interest: Violation of the State Officials’ Code of Conduct (misdemeanor) Theft (felony) Structuring: Non-compliance with procurement law (misdemeanor) Official misconduct (misdemeanor) Intimidation (felony) McGuiness was …
DOJ investigator admits to misleading court in McGuiness case
State Auditor Kathy McGuiness will not have any charges dropped before her trial begins next week, a judge ruled Tuesday. McGuinessâ attorneys appeared before Judge William Carpenter of the Superior Court of Delaware to ask for a misdemeanor non-compliance with procurement law charge to be dismissed. RELATED: McGuiness pleads not guilty; bail set at $50,000 Defense attorney Steve Wood argued …
Auditor McGuiness files for re-election
Auditor of Accounts Kathleen McGuiness Embattled State Auditor Kathleen McGuiness has filed for re-election. First elected in 2018, Delawareâs first female auditor of accounts was indicted in Oct. 2021 on a slew of felony and misdemeanor charges. McGuiness is the first statewide-elected official in Delaware history to be indicted while in office. The charges allege McGuiness broke the law by …