(USA TODAY/WUSA9) -- Maryland's attorney general, an outspoken opponent of underage drinking, says it was not his responsibility as a parent or a high-ranking law enforcement official to intervene at a teen beach party in June where alcohol was apparently served, The Baltimore Sun reports.

Douglas Gansler, a Democrat candidate for governor, says he does not remember whether he saw anyone drinking at the high school party in Delaware, the newspaper reports Wednesday.

In a press conference Thursday, Gansler said he was only at the party to speak with his son.

A photo, which was posted to Instagram by one of those attending, shows Gansler with a cellphone pushing through a crowd of young people, including some dancing shirtless on a table amid a smattering of red plastic cups.

The Sun says underage participants at the party at a rented house in South Bethany, Del., later confirmed that many were drinking alcohol.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler is responding to accounts from Maryland State Police that he regularly ordered state troopers to drive him with lights and sirens to routine appointments.

Documents obtained by The Washington Post show Gansler directed troopers to speed, run red lights and bypass traffic jams while driving him. In one case, police said Gansler insisted on driving himself, running red lights with sirens blaring.

Police Lt. Charles Ardolini wrote in 2011 that the problem existed for five years and "occurs on a daily basis."

Gansler is now a Democratic candidate for governor.

Gansler's campaign issued a response Sunday. Gansler apologized if his "backseat driving" made troopers uncomfortable. But the campaign says the matters were settled and are now being used as a political attack on Gansler.

Although born and bred in upstate New York, I have lived in Northern Virginia for 31 years. This election cycle, the Commonwealth is a battleground in the Presidential race, and by virtue of anticipated coattails, negative or positive, in the Senatorial one as well. For what seems like an eternity, residents have endured increasingly nasty TV ads, and it isn't even post convention, post Labor Day!  Candidates have been crisscrossing the state in attack dog mode, spewing gall and gaffes, attempting to drum up support. I want to buy earplugs.