McGuiness 6.24 2

Judge frustrated as auditor corruption trial falls behind schedule

Charlie 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

Charlie 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

Charlie 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 …

Kathy McGuiness

Current, former employees testify in McGuiness trial

Charlie MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

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 Wagner’s tenure, prior to McGuiness’ election.  After McGuiness took over, staff meetings began with employees being asked to recite the office motto, “confidentiality,” they said. Prosecutors hope to establish that McGuiness …

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

Charlie 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

Charlie 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 …

Kathy McGuiness

Trial of Auditor Kathy McGuiness begins in Dover

Charlie MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

The trial of State Auditor Kathy McGuiness began Tuesday in Dover with both sides delivering fiery opening statements before recessing for lunch. With the jury seated, prosecutors laid out their case against the statewide-elected Democrat, arguing she is guilty of facilitating waste, fraud and abuse despite being the elected official designated to fight against those things. But high-powered defense attorney …

McGuiness lawsuit

State auditor sued by former employee, political opponent

Charlie MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

State Auditor Kathleen McGuiness is being sued by a former employee and political opponent who alleges she was wrongfully terminated. The lawsuit was filed on the same day McGuiness was set to face trial on a slew of corruption charges in Wilmington. Her trial was ultimately relocated to Kent County where it will begin Tuesday.  Kathleen Davies, a career auditor …

Kathy McGuiness

McGuiness trial expected to begin Tuesday in Dover

Charlie MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

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 …

DelawareLive June 5

Delaware LIVE Weekly Review – June 5, 2022

Sonja FreyDelaware Live, Weekly Review

This Week’s Top Headlines Include: Headlines Dem. bills would ban semi-automatics, under 21 possession Red Clay students lead charge on dress code changes State drops McGuiness case to reindict in Kent County Meet Delaware’s Teacher of the Year, Brandywine’s Jahsha Tabron Medical privacy bill threatens parental rights, GOP reps say Carney’s Chancery Court nomination draws fire from activists Culture 2 …