Gov. Beshear says Louisville Rep. Daniel Grossberg should resign over harassment allegations made against him
FRANKFORT, Ky. — Gov. Andy Beshear held a press conference on Friday to address allegations against Louisville Rep. Daniel Grossberg.
He stated that Grossberg should resign from his office.
“We stand united, together, believing this is the right thing to do and I hope he hears it and I hope he follows it,” Beshear said.
He said impeachment or the next election cycle would be the only process to remove Grossberg if he does not resign.
Grossberg represents a district just outside the Watterson Expressway which includes Poplar Hills, Watterson Park and West Buechel.
“I’ve previously said I think he should seriously consider whether he should be a state representative,” Beshear said. “I just want to be clear and unequivocal, this conduct is wrong.”
He went on to say no one should face harassment in their workplace, the capitol or anywhere in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
“When it appears that a state representative is engaging in that kind of conduct, we just have to speak in one clear voice that is absolutely unacceptable,” Beshear said.
He said each story about Grossberg’s alleged harassment has crossed the line and the representative should resign.
KDP Chair Colmon Elridge released the following statement on Representative Daniel Grossberg.
“Every individual deserves to be held accountable for their own actions — particularly those who represent Kentuckians in the halls of our Capitol. Representative Grossberg has repeatedly proven that he is unfit to serve and must resign from office.”
According to a statement from Kentucky House Democratic Caucus Leaders, Grossberg was temporarily suspended from the caucus in July and a confidential ethics complaint was filed against him.
There is still no update on what the investigation into that ethics complaint found about Grossberg’s actions.
Beshear said this call for Grossberg’s resignation comes after “numerous” allegations against him. He said he has spoken directly from some of the alleged harassment victims.
He also said this call for resignation comes after a investigative article from the Lexington Herald Leader.
The article claims six sources at Foxys, a Louisville strip club, said the married 45-year-old Grossberg was a familiar figure at the club. Sources say he had been kicked out at least twice because of drinking too much and grabbing the dancers.
The article also says Grossberg called the dancers names and tried to grab one dancers genitalia while she was performing.
It also alleges Grossberg attempted to pay a dancer $5,000 to have sex with him, among other harmful behaviors that eventually got him banned from the club for life.
Beshear said he has not been in further talks about impeachment for Grossberg if he does not resign.
He also said this situation may show the need for a stronger code of ethics and a stronger enforcement of the code.