Delaware Officials Talked to Lt. Governor's Office During Finance Scandal

Emails obtained by The Associated Press have shed light on a campaign finance scandal involving Delaware's Lieutenant Governor Bethany Hall-Long. The correspondence indicates that Elections Commissioner Anthony Albence, a fellow Democrat, was keen to keep Hall-Long's office informed about inquiries related to her campaign finance reports. These reports revealed that Hall-Long had failed to disclose significant loans amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Despite the findings of a forensic audit conducted by a former FBI executive, both Albence and Attorney General Kathleen Jennings have stated they will not pursue criminal charges against Hall-Long or her husband. As Hall-Long campaigns for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination in the upcoming primary, the situation has drawn scrutiny. On October 23, the AP reached out to election officials regarding apparent discrepancies in Hall-Long's amended filings. The email was directed to Albence's personal Gmail account, prompting him to ensure that his staff kept Hall-Long's office updated on the situation. In a subsequent email, Albence suggested that Hall-Long and her new campaign treasurer should meet with him to clarify the issues directly. Despite the ongoing investigation, the Department of Elections claimed it had no responsive records related to communications with Hall-Long's office. This assertion has been challenged by the AP, which has already obtained records of communications involving Albence and his staff. Notably, the forensic audit also revealed that Hall-Long's campaign treasurer had written numerous checks to himself and cash over a seven-year period, raising further questions about financial practices within her campaign.