Missing $100K Rocks Baltimore Delegate As Feds Eye Campaign Cash

Del. Kathy Szeliga says her campaign may have been ripped off to the tune of about $100,000, after federal agents flagged a major discrepancy tied to her committee’s bank account. She said she was recently warned that the campaign treasurer who managed the books may have mishandled funds, calling it heartbreaking and infuriating that a professional treasurer may have violated our trust just as Maryland’s 2026 political season starts to heat up.

Federal authorities are looking at roughly $100,000 in what has been described as an inconsistent bank balance connected to Szeliga’s campaign account, according to The Baltimore Sun. The campaign told the paper it is cooperating with investigators and running its own internal audit, and said it may file amended campaign finance reports with the Maryland State Board of Elections if the review uncovers errors.

Treasurer Under The Microscope

Local reporting identifies the treasurer at the center of the mess as James Appel, a veteran GOP finance hand who has served as the Maryland Republican Party’s comptroller and worked with campaign-compliance firms. Sources familiar with the situation told MDBayNews that FBI agents questioned Appel about an “inconsistent bank balance” exceeding $100,000 tied to campaign finances.

Campaign Cleanup And Next Steps

Szeliga’s team says it is poring over campaign records and working with federal investigators while the internal audit rolls on, according to The Baltimore Sun. If the review confirms problems, the campaign has signaled it will submit updated reports to the state elections office. The Maryland State Board of Elections is the agency that oversees campaign filings and public disclosure in Annapolis.

Legal Stakes And GOP Fallout

An FBI inquiry does not equal criminal charges, and at this point, there are no public indictments tied to the matter, local coverage has noted. MDBayNews reports that the probe is active but has not been formally announced by federal authorities, and that some Republican groups have already moved to pull Appel from treasurer roles while questions swirl.

Szeliga, who represents parts of Baltimore County in the Maryland House of Delegates and is a prominent GOP voice in Annapolis, now finds her operation at the center of a very public test of how campaigns and their financial networks safeguard donor money. For ongoing updates and official contact information, readers can check Fox Baltimore and Szeliga’s page on the Maryland General Assembly.