DOVER, DE - The Delaware Public Integrity Commission (PIC) has found a third state employee violated State Codes of Conduct in an ethics investigation into the Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA) relating to the care of seized animals.
Elizabeth Warren, formerly with the Department of Agriculture, is so far the third person the PIC has found to have had a role in what they call "unlawful financial dealings at DDA," according to emails from the PIC obtained by WBOC.
As WBOC previously reported, DDA Secretary Michael Scuse and Administrator for Department Management Jimmy Kroon were also found in violation for contracting with employees for services outside of their government roles without offering those contracts to the public.
According to the PIC, the Department of Agriculture seized a large amount of sheep in a significant farm animal neglect case in late 2023 that also included chickens, goats, horses, and cattle. Secretary Scuse has maintained to both the PIC and WBOC that the Department of Agriculture could not find suitable caretaking for the seized animals, and thus turned to Department employees to care for them and receive payment for that care, which Scuse says he had authority to do.
Another one of those employees received nearly $100,000 for the care of almost 500 chickens for one month, the PIC’s findings on Scuse read.
According to the PIC’s latest opinion, published on January 10th, Warren suggested to the DDA and the State Veterinarian that she and her husband take care of about sixty of the seized sheep. The DDA then entered into an animal boarding contract with Warren’s husband, the PIC says, without public notice or competitive bidding.
“In other words, Ms. Warren was aware of the DDA’s need only because of her State position and she used the information to secure an MOU for her spouse,” the Integrity Commission said in their findings.
Warren’s husband received over $30,000 for the care of the sheep, the PIC alleges.
The Commission notes that the MOU names only Warren’s husband and not her, which they allege was a conscious decision to avoid identifying a DDA employee as a recipient of state funds, as both Warrens had offered to care for the animals.
The PIC also says they advised Warren to not accept state funds.
“Ms. Warren ignored the advice of Commission Counsel which was offered in advance of accepting payment from the DDA,” the PIC’s report reads. “Had Ms. Warren heeded that advice, she would not be in the situation in which she finds herself.”
The PIC ultimately voted unanimously to find Warren created an appearance of impropriety by helping establish the contract between her husband and the Department she worked for, a violation of 29 Del. C.§ 5806(a) which reads:
“Each state employee, state officer and honorary state official shall endeavor to pursue a course of conduct which will not raise suspicion among the public that such state employee, state officer or honorary state official is engaging in acts which are in violation of the public trust and which will not reflect unfavorably upon the State and its government.”
Warren had already submitted a letter of resignation to the Department at the time her husband entered the contract with the Department of Agriculture and was no longer an employee when he received payment. She left the Department in May of 2023 and is currently listed as an Agricultural Conservation Specialist with the Delmarva Chicken Association. When reached for comment, the Association told WBOC they were aware of the PIC’s findings but had no comment.
As with the previous findings with Secretary Scuse and Dept. Management Kroons, the PIC says the only penalty they can impose is publication of their opinion.
The Delaware Department of Agriculture tells WBOC the sheep that went to the Warrens were successfully placed back into agricultural production.
