Denney

DOJ responds to McGuiness’ claims of unfair trial: ‘She is wrong’

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

The Delaware Department of Justice on Monday responded to State Auditor Kathy McGuiness’ claims that her trial was unfair. McGuiness asked the judge last week to overrule the jury and acquit her on each of the charges on which she was found guilty — or grant a new trial on those charges. In prosecutors’ response to McGuiness’ motions, they said …

McG Schwartz

House speaker refuses to consider McGuiness removal

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

The Delaware Senate on Monday passed a resolution to begin a process Democratic leadership hopes will result in the removal of one of their own: State Auditor Kathleen McGuiness. Every Republican voted against the measure, putting them in line with House Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth, who said he has “no intention of calling the House into session to consider this …

State Auditor Kathleen McGuiness

McGuiness asks judge to overrule guilty verdict or grant new trial

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

State Auditor Kathleen McGuiness, who on July 1 was found guilty of three misdemeanor corruption charges, has asked the judge in her trial to overrule the jury’s verdict. Separately, defense attorney Steve Wood asked Superior Court Judge William Carpenter Jr. to grant a new trial on the three counts on which she was found guilty, citing numerous perceived errors made …

McGuiness

Prosecution rests in auditor trial, defense to wrap up soon

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

The State of Delaware rested its case against State Auditor Kathleen McGuiness Tuesday after eight and a half days of testimony. McGuiness’ defense team began presenting its case and hopes to wrap it up by Wednesday afternoon.  Defense attorney Steve Wood asked Superior Court Judge William Carpenter to issue a judgment of acquittal on each of the five charges against …

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McGuiness Trial: DOJ investigator says he got ‘twisted up’

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

State Auditor Kathleen McGuiness’ defense attorney on Monday grilled a Department of Justice investigator who admitted to making multiple false statements under oath.  Franklin Robinson, chief investigator of the Justice Department’s Division of Civil Rights and Public Trust, said he got “twisted up” when he admitted during an April suppression hearing that a search warrant for McGuiness’ office included false …

McGuiness 6.24 2

Judge frustrated as auditor corruption trial falls behind schedule

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

Prosecutors in the criminal corruption trial of State Auditor Kathleen McGuiness say they plan to rest their case Monday, assuming everything goes according to plan.  The trial entered its seventh day Friday and featured two former auditors and two former accountants. That testimony was about as exciting as it sounds. The real fireworks happened not on the witness stand, but …

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Key witness against McGuiness admits he lied to grand jury

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

State auditor Kathleen McGuiness’ former chief of staff took the stand Thursday to discuss his participation in the investigation that led to McGuiness’ 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 …

Auditor Kathleen McGuiness

McGuiness’ daughter testifies in auditor corruption trial

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

Prosecutors called State Auditor Kathleen McGuiness’ 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 “Saylar” McGuiness’ 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 …

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McGuiness trial day 3 features daughter’s friend, accounting director

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

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 McGuiness’ daughter, both of whom were employed by the Office of the Auditor as casual seasonal employees in 2020. Much of Bateman’s testimony surrounded a recorded tape of a June 2021 phone conversation …

Kathy McGuiness Trial

After months of waiting, McGuiness trial off to a slow start

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

State prosecutors called on three witnesses Wednesday to detail Auditor Kathy McGuiness’ alleged habit of surveilling employees’ 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 …