Gov. Beshear and Senior Advisor Rocky Adkins appear to have violated State Ethics Code by using state resources for campaign purposes
Washington, D.C.— November 16, 2023— On Thursday, November 16th, 2023, the non-partisan ethics watchdog, the Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust (FACT), filed a complaint requesting the Executive Branch Ethics Commission (EBEC) immediately investigate whether Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear and Senior Advisor Rocky Adkins abused official resources for political purposes.
Rocky Adkins, a state employee and Senior Advisor to Gov. Beshear, was recently pictured at a government event with Governor Andy Beshear’s campaign materials clearly visible. The event recognized the awarding of $5 million dollars in state infrastructure funds to three counties. At the government event, Adkins handed out oversized checks that represented state funds and took photos with local residents--all with Beshear campaign signs and materials posted around the event. This is a clear abuse of government resources for Gov. Beshear's gubernatorial campaign.
The Kentucky Ethics Code states that “[n]o employee may use official state time or other state resources, such as state vehicles, equipment, or personnel for political campaigning or personal activities or for any purpose not related to the responsibilities of a state agency.”
The photos (see Official Complaint) clearly show a state employee and the Governor’s office directly campaigning while handing out government funds. This scenario is even more insidious because it suggests that government funds may be awarded based upon support of a political campaign.
“Hosting an event to award taxpayer dollars to local entities surrounded by campaign paraphernalia is a clear ethics violation. It is deeply concerning that the Governor's office would seemingly hold an event where his staff would abuse official resources for political advantage. Situations like these are not allowed because it injects politics into a government that is supposed to be neutral and working for the benefit of all citizens—not just campaign supporters. That is why I am calling on the EBEC to investigate Governor Beshear's office and his senior advisor, with the hope of ensuring accountability and integrity at the highest levels of government.”
A full copy of the complaint can be found HERE.
FACT is a nonprofit organization promoting accountability, ethics, and transparency in government and civic arenas. For more on FACT, visit: http://www.factdc.org/.
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