FRANKFORT, Ky. (WHAS11) -- For the first time since Governor Matt Bevin accused the previous administration of corruption and coercion, former Governor Steve Beshear is lashing out on April 27.
Beshear said the allegations are false and unsubstantiated.
“His administration is quickly becoming an expert in coercion,” Beshear said.
On April 19, Bevin said Steve Beshear’s administration forced state employees to make political contributions, to awarding no-bid contracts to friends and mishandling workers compensation claims. Bevin has launched an investigation into these allegations.
Bevin and Beshear are in a war of words.
Beshear said during the news conference that Bevin is mad because he didn’t ride quietly off into retirement.
Beshear called Bevin a bully who cares more about politics than Kentuckians.
“He’s hiding something. We just don’t know what it is,” Beshear said.
The 2015 tax returns of Steve Beshear were also made available. He wondered if Governor Matt Bevin would finally do the same.
Beshear said Kentuckians know very little about Bevin compared to other governors in his lifetime.
He said he was shocked to learn about Tim Longmeyer being accused of bribery, concerning a Federally-funded program, and allegedly receiving millions of dollars in a "kickback" scheme.
Beshear called it “such a betrayal.”
At the end of the news conference, Beshear took questions from reporters for 40 minutes.
The following statement is from Communications Director Jessica Ditto:
"After a top level appointment of both him and his son pleaded guilty to federal bribery last week, former Governor Beshear is merely trying to protect what is left of his legacy. Every wild, baseless accusation he has attempted to levy is not corroborated by any facts whatsoever.
Governor Bevin is focused on the job the people of Kentucky elected him to do, which is to restore fiscal responsibility and create economic opportunity. He will let the investigation take its course and has said all he intends to say about this matter."
Republican Party of Kentucky Spokesman Tres Watson issued the following statement after Beshear’s Press Conference:
“Today’s press conference by State Government pensioner Steve Beshear shows the depths to which he will sink to keep the truth about his administration from Kentuckians. I too would be upset if nearly a half century of cronyism, corruption and abuse of the public trust by my Frankfort Democratic political machine was about to be laid bare for all to see.”
You can watch the whole news conference below:
