Ky. Governor Indicted For Misconduct

A grand jury indicted Gov. Ernie Fletcher on misdemeanor charges Thursday, accusing him of illegally rewarding political supporters with state jobs since taking office two years ago.

Fletcher was charged with conspiracy, official misconduct and violating a prohibition against political discrimination. Spokesman Troy Body said the Republican governor would release a statement later Thursday.

For nearly a year, the special grand jury has been investigating whether the Fletcher administration broke state law by basing personnel decisions on political considerations.

Thirteen other current and former administration officials and associates were previously indicted on misdemeanor counts, and the grand jury handed up another 14 sealed indictments Thursday. Last summer, Fletcher pardoned everyone in his administration other than himself who could be charged in the case, although it remains unclear whether a blanket pardon issued before charges are filed is valid.

Fletcher's indictment alleges that he conspired with other administration officials on a hiring scheme dubbed the "Governor's Personnel Initiative."

Administration officials, according to the indictment, crafted an elaborate system of screening job candidates and ran background checks on prospects' political affiliations and donations.

Fletcher has repeatedly denied any political patronage scheme and said his administration's internal review uncovered no violations of state law. The indictment said those denials form part of the conspiracy.

The grand jury also charged Fletcher with discriminating against a former state transportation employee, Mike Duncan.

Duncan sued Transportation Secretary Bill Nighbert and the agency on Wednesday, alleging that he was fired last year because he was a Democrat who gave money to the campaign of Ben Chandler, Fletcher's Democratic opponent in the 2003 gubernatorial election. Nighbert has denied that the firing was politically motivated.

Democratic House Speaker Jody Richards called the indictment a "sad day in the history of our commonwealth."

"My reaction is that we simply have to let the grand jury perform its function, and let our system of law work itself out," Richards said.

The grand jury is set to expire May 19, but Scott Crawford-Sutherland, a prosecutor in the attorney general's office, said earlier Thursday that he expected to request an extension.