Julianne Murray, candidate for Delaware Attorney’s Office, has issued a statement regarding the handling of the case against State Auditor Kathy McGuiness.
“When the Attorney General herself holds a press conference to announce charges against a sitting statewide elected official, one would think that all the T’s would be crossed and that all the I’s would be dotted. Apparently not. It does not speak well for the Department of Justice, or the Attorney General herself, that these basic errors have occurred.” said Murray
On Wednesday the Delaware AG’s Office withdrew charges against State Auditor Kathy McGuiness in New Castle County saying they will file in Kent County.
The move came a day after McGuiness’s attorney Steven Wood argued that the Attorney General’s office had filed its case in the wrong venue.
On what was to be the first day of trial Wood told Judge William C. Carpenter Jr. that McGuiness’s office is in Dover, Kent County and that the trial should be held in Kent County.
The trial in Carpenter’s courtroom, first delayed has now been withdrawn by prosecutors. They say they will refile in Kent county.
On Tuesday Carpenter told prosecutors that if they proceeded in his courtroom he could be forced to acquit McGuiness.
On Tuesday Wood warned that he would file for dismissal in Kent County if prosecutors refiled in Kent County citing the state’s delay in bringing the case to the proper venue.
Earlier this month Carpenter prohibited prosecutors from using the information found on three laptops that were seized in a search of McGuiness’ Dover office in 2021. Carpenter sanctioned the prosecutors for failing to turn over the information on the laptops to the defense in a timely manner.