Democrat claims retaliation by House speaker for not backing contentious corporate law bill
The letter, sent June 24, claims "blatant retaliation" against the Middletown lawmaker for not supporting the hotly contested corporate law legislation, Senate Bill 21, earlier this session. This only continues a trend of tension between these two colleagues, after an investigation by Delaware Online/The News Journal found Moore among more than 450 educators working on expired or missing teaching licenses in March.
In the fallout of that reporting – as well as denial in committee discussion that the issue involved her – Moore was removed as vice-chair of the House Education Committee. When Minor-Brown announced that decision on May 14, some of her comments light up this week's letter from Moore's outside attorney.
Wilmington attorney Thomas S. Neuberger called out language the speaker used in an interview with Delaware Public Media, having said: 'I don't know how we can sit here and turn a blind eye to a situation where we clearly know that somebody was in a classroom teaching who should not have been in the classroom holding children's lives in their hands.'
He argues that calling Moore a danger to children verges on defamation.
More centrally, though, the attorney argues Minor-Brown's decision to strip Moore from her committee was retaliation for opposing SB 21 – which stood to make changes to the Delaware General Corporation Law – and effectively "cancel" his client in the court of public opinion.
"You were angered by her public opposition to and refusal to fall into line on this significant legislation with both local and national implications," Neuberger writes, arguing this threatened his client's freedom of speech. "Stated another way, your inability to get fellow members of your own party into line made you look bad in front of the governor who was pushing hard to get this Bill enacted."
Moore was one of seven votes against the bill. Regardless, Gov. Matt Meyer signed it into law back in March.
The letter seeks an apology, while also threatening to sue the top House Democrat for financial damages if she does not stop "defaming" Moore in the next 30 days.
House Speaker Brown wasn't entertaining Wednesday morning.
"We're in the final days of session trying to pass laws that actually help people – some of us are just more focused on doing the work than making headlines," she told Delaware Online/The News Journal in a written statement June 25. "Disagreements happen, but spinning conspiracies for attention doesn't help Delawareans. It's disappointing, but not surprising. The timing speaks for itself, and frankly, so does the record."
Full investigation, timeline: Hundreds of Delaware teachers found to be working on expired licenses in public schools
Senate Bill 21 explained: Controversial corporate law changes passed by House, signed by Delaware governor
Moore began her teaching career in 2018. As of this 2024-25 school year, she is both a lawmaker and a special education teacher at Louis L. Redding Middle School.
As reporting continued by Delaware Online, Appoquinimink School District uploaded a 'Welcome Letter' from Wilmington University's Special Education Teacher program, dated April 2, 2025, which showed Moore would officially begin her "Alternative Route to Certification" program.
When news of her removal from the House Education Committee erupted, Moore initially told Delaware Public Media on May 14 that she believed the move was a "politically motivated" attack from both Speaker Minor-Brown and House Education Chair Rep. Kim Williams.
As of April 30, More had accepted an emergency certification in English and special education, as well as an initial license after the lapse. Citing this, Moore told the outlet, "The real reason is politically driven due to, one, me not being able to be controlled and having a mind of my own, and that Rep. Williams has not been deemed the champion of education she has traditionally been."
She also argued, as reported by the outlet May 15, her removal was likely based on recent tension between her and Williams over free school meals legislation.
In previous reporting, House leadership has credited Moore's removal to previous lack of proper licensing while teaching, as well as floating an amendment to a House bill related to such educator licensing that could have directly benefited her.
During an April 9 House Education Committee hearing discussing House Bill 97, as previously reported by Delaware Online, Moore shared concerns about teachers caught up in delays on the part of universities offering ARTC programs. During that discussion, all of her questions surrounded this concern.
But when prompted, she directly denied the issue being about her.
"If she believed there were flaws or inequities, she could have used her position to advocate for changes," Minor-Brown said in May. "Instead, she remained silent until she proposed an amendment to an education bill that would have personally benefited her own certification status. That action undermined the integrity of our committee process."
Full investigation, timeline: Hundreds of Delaware teachers found to be working on expired licenses in public schools
Send tips or story ideas to Esteban Parra at (302) 324-2299 or eparra@delawareonline.com. Contact Kelly Powers at kepowers@gannett.com or (231) 622-2191.
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware Democrat claims retaliation in removal from House committee
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