Kentucky Ethics Commission Asked to Probe Corruption

beshear-andy-ky-attorney-general.jpg

BRADENTON, Fla. – Kentucky's attorney general, Andy Beshear, has asked the Executive Branch Ethics Commission to probe public corruption alleged by Gov. Matt Bevin.

Last week, Bevin, a Republican, ordered the finance and administration cabinet staff to launch an investigation into "potentially illegal and unethical contracting processes" during the administration of his predecessor, Steve Beshear.

Bevin also alleged that his office uncovered evidence of employees being coerced into making political contributions to high-level officials, including the attorney general.

Andy Beshear, a Democrat and son of the former governor, denied any knowledge about improper contributions and said that it was not appropriate for the allegations to be investigated by a cabinet agency that answers to the governor.

On Friday, he sent a letter asking the Ethics Commission to intervene, according to the Courier and Journal.

"As an independent body, the commission is shielded from the normal pressures of state government and the influence of any state officials, even the governor," Beshear said.

Bevin had said that he ultimately intended to turn his allegations over to the finance cabinet's inspector general.

On Thursday, finance and administration secretary William Landrum announced that Kenneth F. Bohac had accepted the inspector general's position.

Bohac, who is a 21-year veteran of the U.S. Marshals Service, most recently worked in Illinois.

Tensions between the governor and attorney general have escalated since Bevin announced plans shortly after he took office in December to unwind the state's Medicaid expansion program, which Steve Beshear put into place via an executive order.

Earlier this month, Andy Beshear filed suit against Bevin claiming that higher education budget cuts in the current fiscal year ordered by the governor were improper. That suit is pending.

For reprint and licensing requests for this article, click here.
Bankruptcy Kentucky
MORE FROM BOND BUYER