spot_imgspot_img

Delaware’s lieutenant governor defends campaign spending

spot_img

(The Center Square) — Delaware Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long’s gubernatorial campaign is rebutting an independent review of her finance reports, claiming she spent more than she raised.

In a letter to the state Department of Elections, Hall-Long’s campaign attorney argues an independent report that alleges she violated campaign finance laws is “inaccurate” and “contains material inaccuracies and draws inferences based on speculation.”

“The Lampinski Report contains material inaccuracies and draws inferences based on speculation in a manner that permanently damages the Longs reputation just weeks before an election involving the campaign,” Neil Reiff, Hall-Long’s lawyer, wrote. “Any allegation or inference that the Long’s diverted campaign funds for personal profit and/or misreported personal expenditures as campaign expenditures is categorically false.”

The letter sought to address inconsistencies noted in the report, conducted by former FBI senior executive Jeffrey Lampinski, including thousands of dollars in campaign expenditures that investigators found to be unsubstantiated. Reiff provided receipts and other details for campaign expenditures covered in the investigation.

In the report, Lampinski alleges that Hall-Long’s campaign violated state law on multiple occasions from 2016 to 2023 by not disclosing nearly $300,000 in payments to her husband and campaign manager, Dana, and failed to report $266,000 in loans to her campaign.

Lampinski found that the Longs also reimbursed themselves by $33,000 more than the loans they gave to the campaign, among other discrepancies.

In the letter, Reiff said that the claim is “inaccurate” and that Hall-Long loaned her campaign “more than three times” the amount the investigation flagged for being paid out to the Long family.

“We are confident that over the period of 2016-2023, the Longs contributed more to the campaign than was reimbursed for legitimate campaign-related expenses paid using their personal funds and have forgiven the balance,” Reiff wrote.

He added that the lack of receipts for her previous campaign expenditures is “not a surprise” because, under Delaware’s campaign finance law, receipts are only required to be kept for three years.

The state Department of Elections hired the consulting firm in January to conduct an investigation into Hall-Long’s spending after her campaign filed 13 amended finance reports with the state in response to scrutiny from news outlets.

Hall-Long, a Democrat seeking to replace termed-out Gov. John Carney, will face New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer and former state environmental secretary Collin O’Mara in the Sept. 10 Democratic primary.

Meyer has called on state elections officials to investigate Hall-Long’s campaign finances, saying the report shows she “has been lying to Delawareans for nearly a decade and breaking the law and trying to cover it up.”

“A state investigation conducted by a former FBI chief found the Lt. Governor broke the law by paying her husband over $300,00 from her campaign, and now Bethany Hall-Long has brought in a DC attorney in a desperate attempt to vindicate herself 4 weeks before election day,” Meyer’s campaign said in a statement.

DON’T MISS OUT

Be the first to know about the latest news, giveaways, events, and updates from The Black Chronicle!

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

spot_img
spot_img

Hot this week

African and Caribbean Nations Call for Reparations for Slave Trade, Propose Global Fund

Nations across Africa and the Caribbean, deeply impacted by...

Health care company agrees to pay $22.5 million to settle claims of over billing

A health care company agreed to pay nearly $22.5...

Sports betting expert offers advice on paying taxes for gambling winnings

(The Center Square) – Tax season is underway, and...

Entertainment district benefits don’t outweigh the cost, economists say

(The Center Square) — Weeks later, after more details...

Business association ‘disappointed’ by WA L&I’s proposed workers comp rate hike

(The Center Square) – The Association of Washington Business...

Seattle city economists: Proposed 2% capital gains tax could spur wealth exodus

(The Center Square) – Seattle officials worry that implementing...

Lawsuit challenges Tennessee animal chiropractor regulation

(The Center Square) - A Tennessee woman is challenging...

Casey, McCormick headed for recount

(The Center Square) – Pennsylvania’s U.S. Senate race is...

North Carolina, Arizona most decisive of the battlegrounds

(The Center Square) – Donald Trump’s visits to North...

Ohio’s bathroom bill easily clears Senate

(The Center Square) – The Ohio Senate passed legislation...

Michigan opioid overdose deaths drop faster than national average

(The Center Square) – The Michigan Department of Health...

More like this
Related

Assembly Republicans want surplus returned; Senate Democrats eye Medicaid expansion

(The Center Square) – It doesn’t look like the...

Seattle city economists: Proposed 2% capital gains tax could spur wealth exodus

(The Center Square) – Seattle officials worry that implementing...

Lawsuit challenges Tennessee animal chiropractor regulation

(The Center Square) - A Tennessee woman is challenging...

Casey, McCormick headed for recount

(The Center Square) – Pennsylvania’s U.S. Senate race is...