Judge denies Louisville Democrat’s plea to end ethics investigation into his conduct
Republished from Kentucky Lantern
A Louisville Democrat accused of inappropriate conduct toward women asked a court to intervene in a Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission complaint against him. A judge denied the motion Monday, a day before the commission is scheduled to meet.
Rep. Daniel Grossberg filed the lawsuit in Franklin Circuit Court on Friday asking that the commission be barred from proceeding further with its investigation. The representative’s 23-page complaint alleges “retaliatory and discriminatory actions” by the commission.
Judge Thomas Wingate ruled Monday that Grossberg “failed to meet the standard for injunctive relief” and that the court would not “upend the status quo” of the commission’s proceedings.
“What has been shared with the Court is that a complaint or complaints have been filed against (the) Plaintiff and the Commission has a meeting set for June 17, 2025, to determine whether there is reason to believe that (the) Plaintiff has committed a violation of the Kentucky Code of Legislative Ethics,” Wingate wrote. “Therefore, Court intervention to halt such (a) meeting and/or any ‘investigation’ would upend the status quo — which is for the Commission to follow the statutory procedure set forth in KRS 6.686.”
Details of the complaint against Grossberg are not known because Kentucky law makes the ethics commission’s proceedings, including complaints and other records related to a preliminary inquiry, confidential until the commission makes a final determination.
The lawsuit names all members of the Legislative Ethics Commission and its executive director as defendants.
Grossberg’s motion was heard Monday morning in Frankfort.
Grossberg has been expelled from the House Democratic Caucus and faces calls from within his party to resign from the legislature following allegations against him for inappropriate behavior toward women, as reported by the Lexington Herald-Leader last year. House Democrats sought an investigation by the Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission.
Grossberg’s attorney is Thomas E. Clay of Prospect.
According to the lawsuit, Grossberg says the caucus and community members “have engaged in a pattern of activities intended to destroy the reputation of the Plaintiff, his family, and his ability to freely represent his district.” Grossberg, who is Jewish, claims that he was targeted for introducing a House resolution to condemn Hamas for attacking Israel in October 2023.
Grossberg also says that he faced microaggressions as a Jewish lawmaker such as all food at a caucus retreat having pork in it without any vegetarian or kosher options as well as “pointed questions about celebrations of the Sabbath, Jewish bourbon in his office and his mezuzah.”
Grossberg’s complaint claims that former House Democratic Caucus Chair Cherlynn Stevenson and former Democratic Whip Rachel Roberts sought a retaliatory investigation from the ethics commission into Grossberg. However, neither of them are named as defendants in the lawsuit.
Stevenson is running for the U.S. House in Central Kentucky’s 6th Congressional District. A spokesperson for her campaign told the Kentucky Lantern Monday that she would not be “be distracted by a baseless lawsuit that is full of bogus claims and is in denial of Daniel Grossberg’s vile sexual misconduct” and is instead focusing on issues like protecting “access to health care for families across the commonwealth.”
“He has an appalling and documented record of preying upon women — which is why Cherlynn voted to remove him from the caucus and leaders across the state demanded his immediate resignation,” the spokesperson said.
Last year, the Herald-Leader reported three women who work in politics were asked about inappropriate text messages sent by the representative to them in a Legislative Research Commission investigation. Later, a Louisville strip club said it banned Grossberg for life after he inappropriately touched a dancer.
Grossberg continued to represent the 30th House District in the General Assembly earlier this year, though Kentucky Democratic Party Chair Colmon Elridge blasted Republican leaders in the legislature for assigning Grossberg to three House committees.
The state’s top Democrat, Gov. Andy Beshear, was also among those calling on Grossberg to resign. Speaking to reporters ahead of the party’s Forward Together Dinner in Owensboro Friday night, he said the representative “is not a victim” and should resign from office.
“Daniel Grossberg needs to work on himself and not work in Frankfort,” Beshear said.
Grossberg has gained primary challengers for his legislative seat in next year’s election.
The Lantern has asked for a response from Grossberg. The story will be updated when we receive it.
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