Politics
FBI agent requests recording of New Castle County job offer to councilman
A Wilmington-based FBI agent requested audio of a meeting where Recorder of Deeds Mike Kozikowski offered Councilman David Tackett a county job paying $76,295, before Tackett entered the Democratic primary against him. Federal authorities have not confirmed an investigation or described its scope.
A FBI agent in Wilmington requested a recording of a June meeting in which New Castle County Recorder of Deeds Mike Kozikowski offered Councilman David Tackett a newly created county job paying $76,295, according to emails shared by Tackett and his campaign manager.
The request came Oct. 1 from Nick Fuller, an FBI agent who investigates white-collar crime. Fuller asked Tackett for the audio, which Tackett had recorded during a 90-minute meeting at Cosmos Restaurant near Newport on June 24. Campaign manager Rob Jester sent the file to Fuller on Oct. 8.
The request indicates federal authorities have taken an interest in the matter, but the FBI has not confirmed an investigation or explained what steps it may be taking. Fuller did not respond to a request for comment. U.S. Attorney for Delaware Benjamin Wallace said Justice Department policy prevented him from confirming whether an investigation exists. The Delaware attorney general’s office also declined to comment.
On the recording, Kozikowski repeatedly described a position he said he was creating and suggested Tackett’s experience as a council member made him a good fit. “What’s interesting is the fact of what it pays. It’s $76,295,” Kozikowski said.
Kozikowski made the offer before Tackett had formally filed to challenge him in the Democratic primary. State law bars County Council members from holding another county office. Tackett filed his candidacy hours after the meeting.
Jester filed a complaint with the Delaware Attorney General’s Division of Civil Rights and Public Trust, including the recording. Tackett and Jester said they had not heard from state prosecutors or investigators as of this week.
Kozikowski previously said he saw no problem with the offer because Tackett had not yet filed as a candidate. “He still had that choice,” Kozikowski said in September, adding that Tackett could accept the job or run against him. Kozikowski did not respond to requests for comment about the FBI’s involvement.
Tackett defeated Kozikowski in the Sept. 15 primary, winning 52.2% of the vote. Kozikowski had held the office for 24 years without facing a primary challenger. Tackett has no opponent in the Nov. 3 general election and plans to leave his council seat to become recorder of deeds in January.
Tackett said he does not know what investigators are doing beyond requesting the recording. He said he is prepared to cooperate and will wait for authorities to decide whether to pursue the matter further.