Daniel Cameron faces a $5,000 ethics fine in what he calls politically-motivated “Democratic lawfare” eerily similar to tactics used against President Trump.
Key Takeaways
- Daniel Cameron, former Kentucky Attorney General, is under investigation for allegedly soliciting $30,000 in campaign donations from a company his office was investigating.
- Cameron has labeled the probe “bogus” and “political persecution,” drawing direct parallels to the legal challenges faced by President Trump.
- The investigation was initiated by Democratic Governor Andy Beshear and coincides with Cameron’s campaign for Mitch McConnell’s Senate seat.
- If found in violation, Cameron could face a civil penalty of up to $5,000, though he maintains he recused himself from the investigation and returned the donations.
- Despite the ethics probe, Cameron’s campaign polling shows him leading his primary Republican opponent by 26 percentage points in the Senate race.
Ethics Commission Targets Rising Republican Star
The Kentucky Executive Branch Ethics Commission has launched an investigation into Daniel Cameron, the state’s former Attorney General, over allegations he improperly solicited campaign donations during his 2023 gubernatorial run. According to the commission, Cameron allegedly contacted executives at Edgewater Recovery Centers, a substance abuse treatment organization under scrutiny by his office, seeking a minimum contribution of $30,000 for his campaign. The complaint was initially filed by the state AFL-CIO, a labor organization with strong Democratic ties, during Cameron’s ultimately unsuccessful race against incumbent Governor Andy Beshear.
The ethics commission’s formal charge claims Cameron used his position as Attorney General to influence a potential fundraiser. “During the conversation, Cameron referred to his official position as attorney general, referenced his office’s duties and asked for a specific minimum contribution of $30,000,” the ethics commission stated in its findings. An administrative law judge will now review the case and make a recommendation to the commission, which could result in a civil penalty of up to $5,000 if Cameron is found to have violated state ethics laws.
Cameron Denounces “Democratic Lawfare”
Cameron has forcefully rejected the allegations, characterizing them as politically motivated attacks orchestrated by Democratic opponents. In a statement defending himself against the charges, Cameron drew direct parallels between his situation and the legal challenges faced by President Trump. He has maintained that he properly recused himself from the investigation into Edgewater once he became aware of the potential conflict and returned all campaign donations from the organization’s executives.
“They want to charge me with an ethics violation over a bogus two-year-old claim from an investigation I recused from, and campaign donations I refunded. I hope you see this for what it is – this isn’t ‘ethics’—it’s Democratic lawfare,” said Daniel Cameron, former Kentucky Attorney General.
The timing of the investigation has raised eyebrows among conservatives, as it comes two years after the initial complaint but coincides with Cameron’s campaign for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Mitch McConnell. According to reporting by the Associated Press, Edgewater executives donated approximately $7,600 to Cameron’s gubernatorial campaign. A source close to the organization confirmed that plans for a fundraiser were canceled and all campaign funds were returned once the transactions became public knowledge.
Senate Race Implications
The ethics investigation emerges as Cameron positions himself as a frontrunner in the race to fill Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell’s seat. Cameron is competing against Republican Rep. Andy Barr and businessman Nate Morris in what will be a crucial contest for maintaining Republican control of the Senate. Despite the ethics cloud, Cameron’s campaign appears to be gaining significant traction with Kentucky voters, with internal polling showing him leading Rep. Barr by a substantial 26 percentage points.
“This is the definition of political persecution. It’s the exact same thing they tried to do to President Trump. But like President Trump, I won’t let the left beat me,” said Daniel Cameron, former Kentucky Attorney General.
Cameron has vowed to fight the ethics charges while continuing his Senate campaign. “I’m going to fight this just like I’ll continue fighting for the great people of this commonwealth every single day,” he stated. The Kentucky Executive Branch Ethics Commission has not responded to media requests for comment on the investigation, further fueling speculation about political motivations behind the timing of these proceedings. The case represents yet another example of what many conservatives view as the weaponization of government agencies against Republican candidates challenging the liberal establishment.
