Latest news with #ExecutiveBranchEthicsCommission
Toronto Star
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Star
Ethics complaint resurfaces as Kentucky Republican Daniel Cameron runs for a U.S. Senate seat
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — An ethics complaint stemming from Republican Daniel Cameron's failed run for Kentucky governor has resurfaced as the former state attorney general campaigns to succeed U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell in next year's hotly contested election. The state's Executive Branch Ethics Commission on Wednesday took another step in its investigation into whether Cameron committed an ethics violation by allegedly soliciting certain campaign donations for his 2023 run for governor.
Washington Post
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Ethics complaint resurfaces as Kentucky Republican Daniel Cameron runs for a U.S. Senate seat
FRANKFORT, Ky. — An ethics complaint stemming from Republican Daniel Cameron's failed run for Kentucky governor has resurfaced as the former state attorney general campaigns to succeed U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell in next year's hotly contested election. The state's Executive Branch Ethics Commission on Wednesday took another step in its investigation into whether Cameron committed an ethics violation by allegedly soliciting certain campaign donations for his 2023 run for governor. An administrative law judge will be assigned to review the case and make a recommendation to commission members, who would decide whether a violation occurred. Cameron denounced the commission's action as a weaponization of government meant to damage him over a 'bogus' ethics claim. 'This is the definition of political persecution,' Cameron said in a social media video. Cameron announced his Senate campaign in February, soon after McConnell revealed that he won't seek reelection next year, signaling the start of a new era in Bluegrass State politics. Republican U.S. Rep. Andy Barr launched his run for the Senate seat last month and the Republican field is expected to grow. On the Democratic side , state Rep. Pamela Stevenson is running for Senate. Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear has ruled out a Senate bid as speculation continues to build over whether he may run for president in 2028. The last Democrat to win a Senate race in Kentucky was Wendell Ford in 1992. The reemergence of the ethics complaint comes as the GOP Senate candidates compete for donors and endorsements well in advance of Kentucky's primary election in the spring of 2026. Cameron and Barr have lavished praise on President Donald Trump in hopes of landing his prized endorsement. The ethics commission said Wednesday that it started a preliminary investigation of Cameron in July 2023. The complaint that spurred the investigation was made by the state AFL-CIO, which has strong Democratic ties. It came during the heat of the gubernatorial race, which Cameron lost to Beshear, who won a second term. The labor group said that Cameron may have improperly used his position for his own political gain by soliciting campaign donations from executives of a substance abuse treatment organization that was under scrutiny by the attorney general's office. In its Wednesday filing in the case, the ethics commission said Cameron used his position as attorney general in the spring of 2022 to 'personally contact a business owner and influence him to hold a fundraiser and solicit campaign contributions for his financial benefit.' 'During the conversation, Cameron referred to his official position as attorney general, referenced his office's duties and asked for a specific minimum contribution of $30,000,' the document said. The commission did not identify the business owner on Wednesday but pointed to Cameron's role as attorney general at the time in overseeing health care providers that received Medicaid funds. Cameron reiterated Wednesday that he recused himself from the review of the substance abuse treatment group once he was made aware of the conflict and refunded campaign donations. 'I'm going to fight this just like I'll continue fighting for the great people of this commonwealth every single day,' Cameron said Wednesday. If the commission finds that Cameron violated state ethics law, he could face a civil penalty of up to $5,000 for the one count cited.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ethics complaint resurfaces as Kentucky Republican Daniel Cameron runs for a U.S. Senate seat
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — An ethics complaint stemming from Republican Daniel Cameron's failed run for Kentucky governor has resurfaced as the former state attorney general campaigns to succeed U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell in next year's hotly contested election. The state's Executive Branch Ethics Commission on Wednesday took another step in its investigation into whether Cameron committed an ethics violation by allegedly soliciting certain campaign donations for his 2023 run for governor. An administrative law judge will be assigned to review the case and make a recommendation to commission members, who would decide whether a violation occurred. Cameron denounced the commission's action as a weaponization of government meant to damage him over a 'bogus' ethics claim. 'This is the definition of political persecution," Cameron said in a social media video. Cameron announced his Senate campaign in February, soon after McConnell revealed that he won't seek reelection next year, signaling the start of a new era in Bluegrass State politics. Republican U.S. Rep. Andy Barr launched his run for the Senate seat last month and the Republican field is expected to grow. On the Democratic side, state Rep. Pamela Stevenson is running for Senate. Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear has ruled out a Senate bid as speculation continues to build over whether he may run for president in 2028. The last Democrat to win a Senate race in Kentucky was Wendell Ford in 1992. The reemergence of the ethics complaint comes as the GOP Senate candidates compete for donors and endorsements well in advance of Kentucky's primary election in the spring of 2026. Cameron and Barr have lavished praise on President Donald Trump in hopes of landing his prized endorsement. The ethics commission said Wednesday that it started a preliminary investigation of Cameron in July 2023. The complaint that spurred the investigation was made by the state AFL-CIO, which has strong Democratic ties. It came during the heat of the gubernatorial race, which Cameron lost to Beshear, who won a second term. The labor group said that Cameron may have improperly used his position for his own political gain by soliciting campaign donations from executives of a substance abuse treatment organization that was under scrutiny by the attorney general's office. In its Wednesday filing in the case, the ethics commission said Cameron used his position as attorney general in the spring of 2022 to 'personally contact a business owner and influence him to hold a fundraiser and solicit campaign contributions for his financial benefit.' 'During the conversation, Cameron referred to his official position as attorney general, referenced his office's duties and asked for a specific minimum contribution of $30,000,' the document said. The commission did not identify the business owner on Wednesday but pointed to Cameron's role as attorney general at the time in overseeing health care providers that received Medicaid funds. Cameron reiterated Wednesday that he recused himself from the review of the substance abuse treatment group once he was made aware of the conflict and refunded campaign donations. "I'm going to fight this just like I'll continue fighting for the great people of this commonwealth every single day,' Cameron said Wednesday. If the commission finds that Cameron violated state ethics law, he could face a civil penalty of up to $5,000 for the one count cited.
Associated Press
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Ethics complaint resurfaces as Kentucky Republican Daniel Cameron runs for a U.S. Senate seat
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — An ethics complaint stemming from Republican Daniel Cameron's failed run for Kentucky governor has resurfaced as the former state attorney general campaigns to succeed U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell in next year's hotly contested election. The state's Executive Branch Ethics Commission on Wednesday took another step in its investigation into whether Cameron committed an ethics violation by allegedly soliciting certain campaign donations for his 2023 run for governor. An administrative law judge will be assigned to review the case and make a recommendation to commission members, who would decide whether a violation occurred. Cameron denounced the commission's action as a weaponization of government meant to damage him over a 'bogus' ethics claim. 'This is the definition of political persecution,' Cameron said in a social media video. Cameron announced his Senate campaign in February, soon after McConnell revealed that he won't seek reelection next year, signaling the start of a new era in Bluegrass State politics. Republican U.S. Rep. Andy Barr launched his run for the Senate seat last month and the Republican field is expected to grow. On the Democratic side, state Rep. Pamela Stevenson is running for Senate. Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear has ruled out a Senate bid as speculation continues to build over whether he may run for president in 2028. The last Democrat to win a Senate race in Kentucky was Wendell Ford in 1992. The reemergence of the ethics complaint comes as the GOP Senate candidates compete for donors and endorsements well in advance of Kentucky's primary election in the spring of 2026. Cameron and Barr have lavished praise on President Donald Trump in hopes of landing his prized endorsement. The ethics commission said Wednesday that it started a preliminary investigation of Cameron in July 2023. The complaint that spurred the investigation was made by the state AFL-CIO, which has strong Democratic ties. It came during the heat of the gubernatorial race, which Cameron lost to Beshear, who won a second term. The labor group said that Cameron may have improperly used his position for his own political gain by soliciting campaign donations from executives of a substance abuse treatment organization that was under scrutiny by the attorney general's office. In its Wednesday filing in the case, the ethics commission said Cameron used his position as attorney general in the spring of 2022 to 'personally contact a business owner and influence him to hold a fundraiser and solicit campaign contributions for his financial benefit.' 'During the conversation, Cameron referred to his official position as attorney general, referenced his office's duties and asked for a specific minimum contribution of $30,000,' the document said. The commission did not identify the business owner on Wednesday but pointed to Cameron's role as attorney general at the time in overseeing health care providers that received Medicaid funds. Cameron reiterated Wednesday that he recused himself from the review of the substance abuse treatment group once he was made aware of the conflict and refunded campaign donations. 'I'm going to fight this just like I'll continue fighting for the great people of this commonwealth every single day,' Cameron said Wednesday. If the commission finds that Cameron violated state ethics law, he could face a civil penalty of up to $5,000 for the one count cited.
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Democrat Grimes, former Kentucky secretary of state, wins appeal in ethics case
Alison Lundergan Grimes during Politicon at the Pasadena Convention Center in Pasadena, California, on July 29, 2017. Politicon is a bipartisan convention that mixes politics, comedy and entertainment. (Photo by Ronen Tivony/NurPhoto via Getty Images) The Kentucky Court of Appeals unanimously has upheld a lower court order that cleared former Democratic Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes of ethics violation charges. In a 17-page order issued Friday upholding an April 29, 2024 decision by Franklin Circuit Judge Phillip Shepherd, the three-member appellate court said the Executive Branch Ethics Commission missed its statutory deadline to charge Grimes with improperly ordering the downloading and distribution of voter registration data from her public office while she was Kentucky's secretary of state. 'The Franklin Circuit Court reversed the commission's decision, finding it was arbitrary, not supported by substantial evidence and time barred. Due to the statute of limitations alone, we affirm,' said the appellate court decision. The three appellate judges were Susanne M. Cetrulo, James H. Lambert and Jeff S. Taylor. Her political future cloudy, Grimes must contend with effort to reinstate alleged ethics violations Attorney Jon Salomon, who represents Grimes, said, 'We are pleased that a unanimous panel of the Court of Appeals has agreed with the Franklin Circuit Court that the Executive Branch Ethics Commission missed its statutory deadline to bring charges against former Secretary Grimes. 'Those charges should never have been brought — and Secretary Grimes is optimistic that after nearly eight years, she and her family can put this matter behind them.' Susan Clary, executive director of the ethics commission, said the commission needs more time to review the appellate ruling before commenting. It could ask the appeals court to rehear the case, try an appeal to the Kentucky Supreme Court or let the appellate court ruling stand. Grimes has been mentioned as a possible candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2026. The commission had been investigating Grimes for several years. Grimes, a Democrat and Lexington attorney, was secretary of state from 2011 to 2019 and an unsuccessful candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2014 against Republican Mitch McConnell. She is the daughter of the former state Democratic Party Chair Jerry Lundergan of Lexington. Biden pardons Kentuckian Jerry Lundergan for campaign finance conviction In November 2021, the commission fined Grimes $10,000 for two ethical violations pertaining to handling of voter data. As secretary of state, Grimes was the state's chief elections officer. In her position, she had access to data from the state voter registration system in the State Board of Elections. The commission had alleged that Grimes violated the ethics code by sharing voter information without requiring a request under the Open Records Act or other 'established process of government.' Grimes responded that all the voter data at issue was information in the public domain and that she had full legal authority and discretion as secretary of state to access and share such information. She claimed no statute or regulation was violated by the sharing of such public information. She claimed the commission's charges were barred by the five-year statute of limitations and that the record did not support a finding of any violations of the state executive branch's code of ethics. The commission argued that it was not bound by any statute of limitations. The only allegations pursued by the Ethics Commission were that Grimes allegedly acted unethically in accessing public information in the voter registration system by downloading voter information onto a thumb drive when she was a candidate for reelection. The commission also looked at whether Grimes improperly shared information on new voter registrations for certain Kentucky House of Representative districts in response to a request made informally through the office of the House speaker without requiring a formal open records request or charging a fee. 2024-CA-000630
