ICYMI: Ethics Complaint Filed Against Sen. Julie Raque Adams

FRANKFORT, Ky. – In case you missed it, a Louisville constituent has filed an ethics complaint against Republican State Senator Julie Raque Adams. The complaint stems from a Kentucky Lantern report exposing a potential “pay to play” scheme, and suggesting Sen. Raque Adams funneled more than $80,000 in lobbyist and corporate donations through a non-profit into her own pocket — while serving as the chair of a committee that heard legislation relevant to the business of those same lobbyists and corporations.

The complaint reads in part:

“It appears Adams accepted compensation (though a sham non-profit, Kentucky Strong) for her work as a legislative agent. Worse, she accepted compensation from lobbyists and corporate interests with business before the Senate’s Licensing and Occupation Committee, which she chairs.”

“It appears Adams participated in committee discussions, votes, or other official decisions on matters affecting Revolutionary Racing, Churchill Downs, Charter Communications, LG&E and KU Energy, and related interests…while receiving personal income through Kentucky Strong funded by those same entities.”

The complaint calls on the Legislative Ethics Commission to investigate and identify instances in which Adams voted on matters relevant to the entities that donated to Kentucky Strong, from which she withdrew more than $80,000. Kentucky Democratic Party (KDP) Chair Colmon Elridge released a statement on the report available here. Additional inquiries can be made to nat@kydemocrats.org.