By Mark Hansel
NKyTribune managing editor
Gov. Matt Bevin today called for an investigation into the administration of former Gov. Steve Beshear, citing potential illegal and unethical practices.
Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear, who is Steve Beshear’s son, responded that Gov. Bevin has overstepped his authority in calling for the investigation.
In light of what were described as areas of serious concern dealing with potentially illegal and unethical contracting processes during the previous administration, Gov. Bevin announced the special investigation.
View Gov. Bevin’s press conference here .
Gov. Bevin has asked the Secretary of the Finance and Administration Cabinet, Col. Bill Landrum, using the extensive investigative powers given to him in KRS Chapter 45, to prepare and issue an RFP for a thorough, in-depth investigation and report by an attorney or law firm with experience in investigating activities and contracts.
Once selected, this firm will work closely with Secretary Landrum and his staff, including the Cabinet’s new Inspector General, whose appointment will be announced in the coming days, to make findings and issue a report.
Under KRS Chapter 45, such an investigation would include the ability to subpoena witnesses and records as may be necessary to accomplish the investigative goals.
“A thorough, independent investigation like this can expose and cast light upon prior unsavory — and perhaps illegal — practices, but can also provide the public a degree of confidence in a fair and transparent governance that was so glaringly absent in the past administration,” said Gov. Bevin.
Areas of concern identified by Bevin in calling for the investigation include political contributions by state employees, the Medicaid IT system, a no-bid contract to the North Carolina-based SAS Institute and state workers’ compensation program.
A link to Gov. Bevin’s full remarks is available here .
Attorney General Beshear responded that Gov. Bevin has also awarded no-bid contracts since taking office.
“As the head of an office that is statutorily charged with investigating allegations of corruption, I agree that issues such as no-bid contracts should be carefully scrutinized, including the two no-bid contracts totaling $4 million awarded by the Bevin administration in its first three months.” Beshear said in a statement.
Attorney General Beshear said Gov. Bevin has exceeded his authority in calling for the investigation.
“The appropriate agency…for investigating the governor’s allegations is the Kentucky Executive Branch Ethics Commission, an independent agency, and not a cabinet that answers to the governor,” Andy Beshear said. “The governor is once again overstating his authority under state law (KRS chapter 45). Spending taxpayer money on an outside contract when such allegations should be sent to the commission is wasteful.”
This is not the first conflict involving the Republican Governor and the Democratic Attorney General, both of whom were elected to their first term in November.
Last week, Attorney General Beshear sued Bevin, claiming the governor overstepped his authority by unilaterally cutting 4.5 percent from the state’s colleges and universities in the last three months of the fiscal year.
In calling for the investigation into the Beshear administration, Bevin also cited contributions by former Kentucky Personnel Cabinet Secretary Tim Longmeyer, who pleaded guilty to a federal bribery charge Tuesday afternoon, to Attorney General Beshear’s 2015 campaign:
“Longmeyer helped found what was called the ‘Capitol Club’ which appears to have solicited contributions from scores of donors to Democratic causes and candidates, including raising money from state employees in the Frankfort area – all while he was a top Beshear administration official.”
Bevin added Longmeyer and family members donated $8,000 to the Beshear for Attorney General 2015 campaign and called on Beshear to return that money.
Attorney General Beshear responded that he has cooperated in the Longmeyer investigation and has been cleared of any impropriety.
“Over the last three weeks, I have stood before the public and answered any and every question regarding Mr. Longmeyer,” Beshear said. “United States Attorney Kerry Harvey has definitively stated to the public and the press that there was no involvement by me or my office.
“The sworn affidavit in that case also found there was no knowledge by any campaign related to any contributions. My campaign is awaiting a routine audit by the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance, and will then donate any remaining funds to Common Cause, a government watchdog organization.”
Contact Mark Hansel at mark.hansel@nkytribune.com