DOVER, Del.- Delaware House Speaker Melissa Minor-Brown is facing new controversy after Rep. Sherae’a Moore sent her a cease-and-desist letter, accusing the speaker of retaliation and defamation tied to a dispute over a corporate law bill.
This news comes the same day Rep. Stell Parker Selby announced her resignation. Minor-Brown has so far declined to respond to many of CoastTV’s questions about the representative’s extended absence.
The Neuberger Firm, representing Rep. Sherae’a Moore (D-Middletown), sent Minor-Brown a cease-and-desist letter Tuesday accusing her of retaliation and defamation.
The letter claims Minor-Brown retaliated against Moore for opposing Senate Bill 21, legislation that changed Delaware’s General Corporation Law. According to the letter, Moore’s stance embarrassed Minor-Brown in front of the governor, allegedly prompting efforts to “cancel” Moore politically and personally.
The letter cites First Amendment protections, the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871, and multiple court rulings, including Bond v. Floyd (1966) and Libby v. Fecteau (2025), arguing that legislators cannot be punished for their political speech.
It also highlights comments Minor-Brown made during a May 13 interview with Delaware Public Media. Minor-Brown said Moore, “needs to hold herself accountable" and the letter calls those statements false, defamatory and damaging to Moore’s reputation.
The firm demands that Minor-Brown immediately stop the alleged retaliation and defamatory statements. It also asks for a public and written apology within 30 days, warning that legal action may follow if the demands are not met.
When asked for comment, Minor-Brown said she had not yet reviewed the letter.
“Truthfully, it has been an extremely busy session day — especially given Rep. Stell Parker Selby's announcement this morning — so I haven’t had a chance to review Rep. Moore’s letter yet,” Minor-Brown said. “Right now, with three days of session left, I’m focused on making sure we meet our constitutional deadline to pass a balanced budget by June 30 and that we’re delivering for our constituents.”
Rep. Bryan Shupe (R-Milford) also weighed in, defending Minor-Brown’s actions. Shupe claims Moore was removed from the House Education Committee not because of her vote on the corporate law bill, but because she introduced legislation that would have benefited her professionally and financially as an employee in Delaware’s public school system.
“Pushing forward legislation that personally benefits you is a clear conflict of interest and a violation of the oath of office we take as elected officials in Delaware,” Shupe said. He added that House Chairwoman Kim Williams offered Moore a chance to recuse herself, but Moore declined and continued advancing the bill.
“That’s why Speaker Minor-Brown made the decision to act,” Shupe said.