Politics & Government

Gansler Gives Statement on Appearance at Party with Underage Drinking

The gubernatorial candidate attributes bad publicity to politics.

Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler has come under fire for a photo reportedly showing him at a summer party in Delaware where underage drinking was occurring.

Gansler is a Maryland gubernatorial candidate who has previously spoken out against underage drinking.

Gansler appeared in Silver Spring Thursday and said he wasn't attending the party but went there to talk to his son about travel plans, according to news reports.

“Perhaps I should have assumed there was drinking going on and I got that wrong,” Gansler said in a prepared statement at the news conference, according to news reports. “At no time while I was in the house, did I see any teenager in any danger or any risk.”

The Baltimore Sun published a photo of Gansler at the party, which reportedly occurred at Bethany Beach in June. 

Earlier this month, documents surfaced that stated Gansler used his transportation and security detail to speed through traffic, according to The Washington Post

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Gansler said in a statement, "The picture being painted by these documents is not an accurate reflection of reality. I deeply respect the troopers, the job they do protecting me and the public." 

On Thursday Gansler attributed the recent reports to partisan politics.

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“Is the dirty tricks and innuendo and all that stuff going to continue?," he asked, according to WJZ. "Absolutely. We’re more than a year away from an election and this stuff’s going on now. I assume it’s going to get more and more,” Gansler added.


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