Dover police clear Flowers of harassment charges

Delaware Treasurer Chip Flowers was cleared by police following an investigation into claims that he threatened a former co-worker.  

Former Deputy Treasurer Erika Benner filed a harassment complaint with the Dover Police Department last month, claiming that Flowers threatened her and her son in a series of text messages.

According to Dover police, the contact between Flowers and Benner was mutual and no charges were filed on either party.

“What took so long in this was having to get the phone records from the companies showing the times and the dates that the messages were sent and sorting through those messages and comparing them to the messages that were given to us from the parties and then determining whether they met the criteria for harassment or not,” explained Cpl. Mark Hoffman of the Dover Police Department.

Flowers said he believes the claims were made in an effort to sabotage his run for re-election.

“This was filed 30 days before a primary election because I was on my way to a victory,” Flowers said. “I think it was very important to show people that I was innocent of these false claims.”

The treasurer dropped out of the primary race shortly after the police investigation was launched.

“All of you know that these lies are going to follow me in Delaware after re-election,” said Flowers during a tearful press conference in August. “If I seek to achieve higher office, they will still follow me, and in effect, my family life would be horrible. Always having to look over my shoulder to see who is lying on me and always coming before this podium. I don’t want to live like that.”

The treasurer plans to move to Massachusetts after he finishes his term.

“I will continue to stand up for the people of Delaware for the remainder of my service as we transition to the next chapter of our lives in Massachusetts,” he said. “I encourage my supporters to forgive those who were part of this wrongdoing and always remember that good shall overcome.”