A state government ethics panel is advising Attorney General Andy Beshear against launching an investigation into Gov. Matt Bevin’s recent purchase of a Louisville house from a political donor – if he’s eyeing a run for governor in 2019.
The eight-page opinion put forward by the Executive Branch Ethics Commission adds that Beshear could look to a third-party investigator to avoid a conflict of interest if he plans to challenge Bevin. The Democratic top law enforcement official has frequently clashed with the Republican governor, taking him to court over executive orders.
Beshear, the son of former Gov. Steve Beshear, requested the ethics opinion in a May letter sent by Deputy AG Michael Brown. Bevin has faced questions about the price he paid for the home, with critics suggesting he obtained a sweetheart deal. The governor has maintained the scrutiny is a politically motivated distraction.