Ethics Newsline®

FRANKFORT, Ky.
Kentucky governor Ernie Fletcher, indicted this year on charges he violated state laws by hiring and promoting political cronies, will walk away from all charges after negotiating a settlement to three misdemeanor counts.

The Cincinnati Enquirer reports that the first-term Republican admitted no wrongdoing, but did sign a court order acknowledging that “evidence strongly indicates wrongdoing by his administration with regard to personnel actions within the merit system.” He stipulated that the actions were “inappropriate,” and that as governor he holds ultimate responsibility for them.

The order dismissed all charges “with prejudice,” meaning that they cannot be brought again, according to a report from Louisville television station WAVE.

Several state employees alleged that hiring decisions were based on political leanings, and said they had been discriminated against because of their political leanings.

According to the Louisville Courier-Journal, the order ends only the case against Fletcher. A grand jury continues to investigate other allegations of political patronage in Kentucky, and there is another ongoing investigation by the state ethics commission into allegations of abuses in the state hiring system.

Now that the case is concluded, Fletcher may be allowed to create a fund to accept donations to help him pay his legal bills, according to the Associated Press. While details are still being worked out, it appears that Fletcher would not be allowed to accept donations from people and firms who have business dealings with agencies with which the governor has direct involvement.