Mongiardo
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Legal Newsline) - Kentucky Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo is planning to add more charges to the ethics complaint he recently filed against state Attorney General Jack Conway, his opponent in the race for a U.S. Senate seat.
Mongiardo has already alleged that Conway has "violated the public trust" by accepting more than $70,000 in campaign contributions from utility companies, their executives and lobbyists while approving rate hikes.
Kim Geveden, the campaign spokesperson for Mongiardo, said Friday that Mongiardo will soon be amending the complaint.
Geveden said he will be adding "new discoveries that raise even more questions regarding Conway's conduct as attorney general."
Mongiardo has a single-digit lead over Conway in most polls. The two Democrats will face off in May 18's primary election.
Conway campaign manager Jonathan Drobis has called the ethics complaint a political stunt. He says Mongiardo did not sign a document that included the phrase "under penalty of perjury."
"Despite what Mr. Drobis may be 'spinning' to... members of the media, Mongiardo's ethics complaint was not only signed, but was signed 'under penalty of perjury,' and notarized by a public notary with a seal as required by the rules governing ethics complaints," Geveden said.
A copy of the complaint provided by Mongiardo's campaign shows that he did add "under the penalty of perjury" to his signature.
Mongiardo's complaint says Conway benefitted from a rate increase requested by Atmos Energy. Atmos is a business partner of Kinder Morgan, in which Conway has invested millions of dollars, Mongiardo says.
Mongiardo's complaint also says Conway approved a $22 million rate increase for Louisville Gas & Electric then accepted thousands of dollars in contributions from the company's executives and its registered lobbyists.
From Legal Newsline: Reach John O'Brien by e-mail at jobrienwv@gmail.com.