Former Cecil County Executive Danielle Robinson has publicly addressed a deeply unsettling voicemail that emerged online this month, featuring graphic and violent sexual comments allegedly made by members of the Cecil County Sheriff’s Office. The voicemail, recorded in 2023, reportedly includes remarks that left Robinson feeling violated and exposed.
In an exclusive interview, Robinson, who served from 2020 to 2024, described the moment she first listened to the recording. “I feel completely violated and completely exposed,” she stated from her home in Aberdeen, Maryland. The roughly five-minute audio includes explicit language and threats directed at her, with one man graphically describing plans to sexually “brutalize” her.
Graphic Content Revealed
In the recording, which surfaced through the Turnbull Brockmeyer Law Group on social media, one individual is heard saying, “We’re getting our d**** rubbed by Danielle Hornberger,” while others made lewd comments about her. Robinson characterized the remarks as not only offensive but as expressions of intent to harm, saying, “I define it as rape. They want to hurt me.”
Robinson identified the voices as those of men she had previously encountered during her time in office. She recalled that the voicemail was likely captured during an accidental phone call, or “butt dial,” intended for another individual. The men had previously invited her to the Fraternal Order of Police lodge, which was mentioned in the voicemail as a location for the alleged violent acts. “I worked with them professionally. I knew them,” Robinson commented, highlighting how unsettling their behavior was.
Response and Investigation
The Cecil County Sheriff’s Office announced that the Maryland State Police will conduct an independent investigation into the matter. Robinson indicated that the sheriff contacted her this week to offer an apology. While she had previously maintained a positive working relationship with law enforcement, the voicemail has prompted her to reevaluate her perceptions of those involved.
Robinson emphasized that her concerns extend beyond her own experience. “This is less about what I did while in office,” she remarked. “This is about a look into people with power and what their true nature is — what they really think.” The voicemail has surfaced during a time of increased scrutiny on the sheriff’s office, which has faced allegations of a toxic and hostile work environment.
Reports from the Baltimore Sun have pointed to a culture within the department that includes a so-called “Christmas list” of anonymous comments mocking employees’ personal lives, health, and relationships. Robinson believes that disciplinary action is necessary for the individuals heard in the voicemail, advocating for suspensions without pay during the investigation. “They should lose their job,” she asserted.
Robinson, who now lives a quieter life, expressed a desire to move beyond her political career and the distressing revelation of the voicemail. “I don’t want to make this about politics or about my term,” she said. Her experience raises significant questions about workplace culture and the treatment of individuals in positions of authority, particularly regarding the safety and respect owed to all employees.
