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Sussex Republicans file invalid ethics complaint against Democrat

House lawyer rejects submitted letter found not in compliance with General Assembly rules
June 24, 2022

Sussex County Republican Committee Chair Marilyn Booker filed an ethics complaint against a Democratic leader regarding hearings on gun control bills, but it was rejected because General Assembly rules state that only members of the House of Representatives may submit such complaints.

In a June 20 letter, available at sussexgop.org, sent as the formal filing of the complaint to Speaker of the House Rep. Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth Beach, Booker alleged the behavior of House Majority Leader Rep. Valerie Longhurst, D-Bear, during hearings on House Bills 450 and 451 June 8-9 was “at best reprehensible and unethical at worst.” 

HB 450, sponsored by Longhurst, aims to prohibit the manufacture, sale, offer to sell, transfer, purchase, receipt, possession or transport of assault weapons, with certain exceptions. 

HB 451, sponsored by Schwartzkopf with Longhurst as an additional sponsor, would prohibit people under the age of 21 from buying, owning, possessing or controlling a firearm or ammunition of a firearm except under limited circumstances.

Both bills were assigned to the House Administration Committee chaired by Longhurst and comprising Schwartzkopf; House Majority Whip Rep. John Mitchell, D-Elsmere; House Minority Leader Rep. Daniel Short, R-Seaford; and House Minority Whip Rep. Timothy Dukes, R-Laurel.

Booker stated that Longhurst should have recused herself as chair, but instead used her power to limit public comment to one minute per speaker. Booker said Longhurst showed disdain for citizens who opposed her bill and their right to petition the government.

Longhurst limited overall comment to less than 90 minutes per bill, Booker wrote in a June 22 news release about the complaint. Booker called on Schwartzkopf for a full, fair and public adjudication of the matter.

In a June 22 response to Booker, Ethics Committee Staff House Majority Caucus Attorney Karen Lantz said she reviewed the complaint in accordance with House Resolution No. 4, Permanent Procedures of the House of Representatives of the 151st General Assembly of the State of Delaware for Ethics Violations. 

“We have determined that the complaint does not accord with House Rule 6(c), which states that a complaint may be filed only by a member of the House of Representatives,” Lantz wrote.

Lantz also referred Booker to House Rule 30(d), which states the ethics committee and House can investigate an alleged violation by a member of any rule of legislative conduct only upon a written complaint submitted by a House member.

“We are therefore returning this complaint to you along with a copy of the ethics rules as required by Ethics Rule 7,” Lantz wrote.

HB 450 was passed by the House June 9 and by the Senate June 16; it currently awaits the governor’s action. HB 451 was passed by the House June 14, but has stalled in the Senate, where it awaits further action.

 

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