News from the South - Kentucky News Feed
Former Kentucky secretary of state wins ethics case
by Jack Brammer, Kentucky Lantern
April 29, 2025
After years of legal wrangling, former Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes is free of any state ethics violation charges.
The Executive Branch Ethics Commission, which brought charges against her in 2021, has decided not to try to appeal to the Kentucky Supreme Court last month’s unanimous decision by the Kentucky Court of Appeals to uphold a lower court order that cleared Grimes of any wrongdoing.
With no appeal to the state’s highest court from the commission within 30 days, the appellate court finalized its decision on April 21.
“There are no legal charges any more against her, and there never should have been any,” her attorney, Jon Salomon of Louisville, said Monday night.
The end of the legal case could opens the door for a possible run for another political office. The Democrat is seen by some Kentucky political observers as a possible candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2026 or Central Kentucky’s 6th Congressional District next year.
Grimes is a Lexington lawyer who was secretary of state from 2011 to 2019 and was 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. The Lundergan family is close to former President Bill Clinton and his wife, former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Grimes did not return phone calls seeking comments about her legal victory and political future.
Susan Clary, executive director of the ethics commission, had no comment Monday night when asked why the commission did not ask the Kentucky Supreme Court to review the Court of Appeals’ decision.
The commission had been investigating Grimes for several years.
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 and claimed that a limitation could hamper its work on other cases.
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.
Grimes fought the charges in Franklin Circuit Court and Judge Phillip Shepherd ruled in her favor.
Then the three-member appellate court said last month that 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.
Salomon, Grimes’ attorney, noted that the final order contained a “To Be Published” provision, meaning that the case sets precedent in law.
Kentucky Lantern is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Kentucky Lantern maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jamie Lucke for questions: info@kentuckylantern.com.
The post Former Kentucky secretary of state wins ethics case appeared first on kentuckylantern.com
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Center-Left
This article presents the facts about Alison Lundergan Grimes’ legal case and political future in a mostly neutral to slightly favorable light. It highlights her legal victory and potential political prospects without using charged or partisan language. The article leans slightly center-left due to the positive framing of a Democratic figure and the mention of her ties to prominent Democratic leaders while maintaining an informative and balanced tone overall.
News from the South - Kentucky News Feed
Inside look: Kentucky Army National Guard operations exercise
SUMMARY: The Kentucky Army National Guard conducted a weekend training exercise in Louisville to sharpen skills for responding to natural disasters like floods and tornadoes. The exercise included helicopter simulations to ensure smooth protocol and effective communication during emergencies. Battalion S-3 Operations Officer Jacob Conner emphasized the importance of realistic, progressive training with instructor pilots to prepare members for real-world scenarios. This rigorous preparation aims to build proficiency, teamwork, and confidence, ensuring the Guard can effectively support communities throughout Kentucky during crises. The training highlights the Guard’s commitment to readiness and service to the commonwealth.
Inside look: Kentucky Army National Guard operations exercise
WLKY is your home for Kentucky breaking news and weather. For your latest Kentucky news and weather visit: https://www.wlky.com/
For licensing inquiries: https://www.wlky.com/licensing
News from the South - Kentucky News Feed
Few showers possible Saturday night into Sunday
SUMMARY: Meteorologist Eric Zernich reports mostly dry, pleasant fall weather with clear skies and temperatures dipping into the 50s and 60s overnight. Most of the weekend stays dry, though a weak upper-level disturbance may bring a slight chance of showers late Saturday into Sunday morning, mainly in southern Indiana, but rain will likely fizzle due to dry conditions. Sunday will be warmer, reaching near 90°F, continuing into next week with summer-like heat in the 90s. Events like Bourbon and Beyond and the Gaslight Festival will enjoy mostly sunny skies, but attendees should stay hydrated as warm temperatures persist.
WLKY meteorologist Eric Zernich’s Friday night forecast
WLKY is your home for Kentucky breaking news and weather. For your latest Kentucky news and weather visit: https://www.wlky.com/
For licensing inquiries: https://www.wlky.com/licensing
News from the South - Kentucky News Feed
Trump says he’ll send National Guard to Memphis, escalating his use of troops in US cities
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump announced plans to deploy the National Guard to Memphis, Tennessee, to address crime concerns, claiming local officials support the move. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee welcomed the plan, while Memphis Mayor Paul Young opposed it, emphasizing community-focused solutions like rehabilitation and job support over military presence. Despite overall crime reductions and ongoing FBI operations, persistent gun violence and high-profile killings fuel concerns. Legal experts warn deploying troops for policing risks civil rights violations. Trump’s broader strategy involves sending troops to other Democratic-led cities, sparking political and legal debates over the use of military forces in domestic law enforcement.
The post Trump says he’ll send National Guard to Memphis, escalating his use of troops in US cities appeared first on www.wnky.com
-
News from the South - North Carolina News Feed6 days ago
What we know about Charlie Kirk shooting suspect, how he was caught
-
News from the South - North Carolina News Feed6 days ago
Federal hate crime charge sought in Charlotte stabbing | North Carolina
-
Our Mississippi Home5 days ago
Screech Owls – Small but Cute
-
News from the South - Arkansas News Feed6 days ago
NW Arkansas Championship expected to bring money to Rogers
-
News from the South - Louisiana News Feed7 days ago
Haynes wanted in on Wildlife bribery scheme too, informant says
-
News from the South - Alabama News Feed7 days ago
Huntsville Fire & Rescue Holds 9/11 Memorial Service | Sept. 11, 2025 | News 19 at 5 p.m.
-
News from the South - North Carolina News Feed6 days ago
Under pressure, some immigrants are leaving American dreams behind
-
Mississippi News Video6 days ago
Mississippi Science Fest showcases STEAM events, activities