Former U.S. Attorney and current delegate to Congress candidate, Delia Smith.
ST. THOMAS — A bipartisan group of former United States attorneys has endorsed former U.S. Attorney Delia L. Smith in the Democratic race for delegate to Congress, citing her independence, integrity and record pursuing public-corruption cases in the Virgin Islands.
The July 20 release described the group as 45 former U.S. attorneys who served as chief federal law enforcement officers in districts extending from Arizona to Washington state. The accompanying list contains 46 names.
According to the release, the former prosecutors viewed Smith’s record in federal law enforcement as evidence that she possesses the qualities needed to serve as the Virgin Islands’ sole representative in Congress.
President Joe Biden appointed Smith in 2021 to lead the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of the Virgin Islands. Her nomination was confirmed the following year by a Republican-led Senate Judiciary Committee and the full U.S. Senate.
She became the first native, female Virgin Islander to lead the office.
The release stated that Smith indicted five cabinet officials during her tenure, identifying former Police Commissioner Ray Martinez, former Office of Management and Budget Director Jenifer O’Neal, former Department of Sports, Parks and Recreation Commissioner Calvert White, former V.I. Housing Finance Authority Chief Operating Officer Darin Richardson and former Department of Education Director of Maintenance Davidson Charlemagne. It also named Mr. Charlemagne’s wife, Sasha Charlemagne, among those charged in public-corruption-related cases.
Smith also prosecuted major transnational gang-related drug-trafficking organizations and related homicides, according to the release.
The release also traced Smith’s path through public service, beginning with her work as a secretary in the V.I. Attorney General’s Office.
At the time, she was a young single mother working full time while attending college and law school.
During law school, Smith worked in Washington for former Delegate to Congress Victor Frazer.
After completing her studies, she clerked for Judge Ishmael Meyers and later returned to the Attorney General’s Office, where she served as director of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault.
Smith subsequently spent nearly two decades as an assistant U.S. attorney before being appointed U.S. attorney for the Virgin Islands.
The endorsers include former Virgin Islands U.S. Attorneys Ronald Sharpe and Anthony Jenkins, whom the release identified as having led the district during the period from 2005 through 2017.
“I had the privilege of leading the U.S. Attorney’s Office here for nearly eight years, and Delia Smith served under my leadership before going on to lead that same office herself. I witnessed her integrity, hard work and commitment to seeking justice firsthand. The Virgin Islands needs a fierce advocate who will ask advocate effectively, demand straight answers, and secure wins in Washington. For almost 20 years, Delia has proven that she will do exactly that.”
Former U.S. Attorney Sandra Hairston of the Middle District of North Carolina also endorsed Smith.
“I am so proud of you, my friend, for continuing your public service. I know you will do an outstanding job, and I hope your voters know what an asset you will be in Congress.”
The former U.S. attorneys listed in the release are Gary Restaino, District of Arizona; E. Martin Estrada, Central District of California; Ismail Ramsey, Northern District of California; Tara McGrath, Southern District of California; Matthew Graves, District of Columbia; Vanessa Avery, District of Connecticut; Markenzy Lapointe, Southern District of Florida; Peter Leary, Middle District of Georgia; Ryan Buchanan, Northern District of Georgia; and Clare Conners, District of Hawaii.
The list continues with Joshua Hurwit, District of Idaho; Gregory Harris, Central District of Illinois; Clifford Johnson, Northern District of Illinois; Zachary Myers, Southern District of Indiana; Ronald Gathe, Middle District of Louisiana; Brandon Brown, Western District of Louisiana; Erek Barron, District of Maryland; Joshua Levy, District of Massachusetts; Dawn Ison, Eastern District of Michigan; Todd Gee, Southern District of Mississippi; and Jason Frierson, District of Nevada.
Also included are Breon Peace, Eastern District of New York; Damian Williams, Southern District of New York; Trini Ross, Western District of New York; Sandra Hairston, Middle District of North Carolina; Dena King, Western District of North Carolina; Mac Schneider, District of North Dakota; Becky Lutzko, Northern District of Ohio; Kenneth Parker, Southern District of Ohio; Natalie Wight, District of Oregon; Jacqueline Romero, Eastern District of Pennsylvania; and Eric Olshan, Western District of Pennsylvania.
The remaining names listed are Stephen Muldrow, District of Puerto Rico; Zachary Cunha, District of Rhode Island; Henry Leventis, Middle District of Tennessee; Damien Diggs, Eastern District of Texas; Leigha Simonton, Northern District of Texas; Alamdar Hamdani, Southern District of Texas; Trina Higgins, District of Utah; Nikolas Kerest, District of Vermont; Anthony Jenkins, David Nissman and Ronald Sharpe, District of the Virgin Islands; Christopher Kavanaugh, Western District of Virginia; Vanessa Waldref, Eastern District of Washington; and Nicholas Brown, Western District of Washington.
Smith is among several candidates seeking the Democratic nomination for delegate to Congress in the 2026 election cycle following incumbent Delegate Stacey Plaskett’s decision to run for governor of the Virgin Islands.
The release identified government transparency and accountability as central themes of Smith’s congressional bid. It also referenced her recent calls for V.I. government contractors engaged in federal lobbying to comply fully with disclosure requirements.
“Serving the people of the Virgin Islands as their U.S. Attorney was the honor of my career. I am grateful to my former colleagues for standing with me, and I will carry that same independence and commitment to accountability to Congress,” Smith stated.
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