Busted! Democrat senator's husband steals GOP signs

Police in Middletown, Delaware, say the husband of Democrat state Sen. Bethany Hall-Long is the man seen on video stealing dozens of Republican campaign signs.

Dana Armon Long has been charged with a Class A misdemeanor for theft under $1,500. He faces up to one year in prison and a fine of up to $2,300.

Republican campaign workers sprang into action when they realized someone was stealing political signs highlighting Delaware's economy and urging residents to vote for Republican candidates. Some of the signs read "Fix the Economy! Vote Republican."

Dana Long (left) was the man captured on video (right) stealing GOP campaign signs in Delaware.

The Republican volunteers staked out a spot near a busy intersection during the early morning hours and rolled videotape.

Police said volunteers observed "a vehicle pull off the roadway in front of the signs. An individual exited his vehicle and began removing the signs."

The video shows the volunteers confronting Long as he headed toward his car with a handful of signs pulled from the ground nearby.

The volunteers tell the man he's stealing signs paid for by the Republican Party, but the man says there aren't any specific names on them.

All are marked with "Paid for by: The Republican Party of Delaware, Bill Smith, Treasurer."

"We got you, brother! We got the license plate, your face, and everything," one of the volunteers says in the video.

The camera then pans to the man's car showing a backseat full of similar signs before he drives away.

State Sen. Bethany Hall-Long, D-Middletown

Hall-Long confirmed the man caught on video stealing the signs is her husband. She said he turned the stolen signs over to the Democratic Party, asking that they be returned to the Republican Party about six hours after they were stolen.

"Sadly, this race has become tough and personal," Hall-Long's statement read. "My husband is my high school sweetheart and he loves me very much. I was not aware that he had allowed his frustration over the campaign attacks to get the better of him. Of course I'm disappointed and wish that it had not happened."

Hall-Long added she would not comment further since the Delaware GOP is threatening legal action.

Republicans in the state seized on the incident to criticize Democrats.

"When you only have a track record of high taxes, unemployment and lower wages for private sector employees to stand on, the Democrats must resort to breaking the law to win elections because they are scared of being held accountable for their dismal performance," Fluharty said in a statement.

"They become greedy, they think they can function above the law and this is a prime example of that."

John Daniello, chairman of the state Democratic Party, said in a statement that, "Each campaign season, we deal with candidates removing their opponent's signs. This behavior is absolutely unacceptable. There are more positive ways in which to support your candidate regardless of party affiliation."

Hall-Long faces Republican John Marino in the Nov. 4 general election.