Campaign finance scandals plague Beshear
Frankfort, Ky. (August 14, 2023) – On Friday, WBKO reported a Beshear administration official pressured members of the Barren County Economic Authority to make illegal contributions to the Democratic Governors’ Association.
According to WBKO, a representative from Gov. Andy Beshear’s office contacted the organization and shook them down for an illegal contribution to the Democratic Governors’ Association for an “earmarked independent expenditure,” in exchange to attend to attend a function at the Governor’s Mansion with “senior members of the state’s economic development sector.”
“This report raises many questions,” said Sean Southard, RPK spokesman. “A Beshear official is pressuring an organization dependent upon a relationship with the state for political donations. Who in Andy’s office is shaking people down for illegal contributions? How many other times has this occurred? Under Andy Beshear, it’s becoming clear his office pressures people and sells off government to the highest bidder. This November, we have a chance to turn the page on the era of Beshear corruption and replace Andy with a strong, conservative leader in Daniel Cameron.”
This is not the first time Andy Beshear has been caught in a campaign finance scandal this election season.
On Thursday, the Herald Leader uncovered the Beshear Administration had prioritized a road project personally benefiting a business owned by Randall Weddle, who previously made $200,000 in illegal campaign contributions to the Beshear campaign and the Kentucky Democrat Party.
According to a July report from the Daily Beast, Andy Beshear personally signed off on a $500,000 taxpayer-funded check to Raven Cares. On the same day Beshear presented the check to the organization, he attended a campaign fundraiser at the owner’s home hours later. According to the report, “the exact haul is impossible to confirm.”
Pay-to-play scandals have plagued the Beshears for years. While serving as Attorney General, Andy Beshear’s top deputy Tim Longmeyer was arrested and later pled guilty to federal charges relating to a massive kickback and illegal campaign donation scheme.
