Attorney: New texts show FCPS budget director falsely placed on leave

The attorney for the whistleblower Fayette County Public Schools budget director sent newly released texts to an investigator Wednesday saying they point to “a systemic cover-up” and show that Ann Sampson-Grimes was placed on leave based on a “false narrative” by other employees.

Attorney Brandon Voelker on Wednesday shared with the Herald-Leader the texts from budget specialist Jessica Williams to Grimes that he said directly conflict with information Williams’ gave to Grimes’ supervisors in an email shortly before Grimes was placed on leave from Aug. 15 to Sept. 25.

Voelker included the texts in a Wednesday letter he wrote to Leigh Latherow, an Ashland attorney hired by the school board to determine whether Superintendent Demetrus Liggins retaliated and discriminated against Grimes as she claimed in a lawsuit.

Grimes has returned working for the district, she’s limited to special projects, Voelker said.

Grimes has sued Liggins and the district, saying she was placed on leave because she repeatedly alerted her bosses last year that the district’s financial state was flailing and would worsen in 2025.

The Herald-Leader has obtained previous emails from Grimes to other district staff under the Kentucky Open Records Act that confirm she told her supervisors about the problems.

Before the August suspension, finance Director Rodney Jackson told Deputy Superintendent Houston Barber in an email he was troubled by Williams’ claims that Grimes’ didn’t respond to her concerns about the budget.

Barber placed Grimes on leave while an investigation began.

But in the newly released texts, including one on May 2, 2025, Voelker said, Williams texted Grimes following a meeting with their supervisor Barber advising, “You have given them sound advice and have it in writing. The next thing is to decide what you are comfortable with saying out loud in a public meeting. I don’t envy your position.”

In another text that Voelker provided, Williams wrote to Grimes, “Today’s meeting made me realize that they have an agenda, and it has nothing to do with real numbers.”

“Her Aug. 11, 2025 email is clearly part of a systematic cover-up and retaliation against Ann Grimes,” Voelker said in his letter to the investigator.

“The cover-up is clear,” Voelker said in a statement to the Herald-Leader Wednesday.

On August 11, he said, Jessica Williams sent Rodney Jackson a copy of an email Williams sent Grimes back in January warning of declining funds. Williams said Grimes never emailed her back.

But Voelker says the most recent texts show Grimes knew Williams wasn’t ignoring her.

“Jessica Williams clearly outlined that Ann Grimes was doing her job and district leadership was not listening, did not care and as Williams said, district leadership has an agenda, and it has nothing to do with real numbers,’” Voelker told the Herald-Leader.

On Wednesday, the Herald-Leader asked district officials for a comment from Williams.

FCPS district spokesperson Miranda Scully responded, “The district cannot comment on the details of the pending investigation being conducted for the board by Ms. Latherow. Such investigations often take 30-60 days, but the actual amount of time can depend on a variety of factors.

“While the results of the investigation eventually may become public, the investigation process is confidential based on legal and policy requirements, as well as consideration for the rights of the parties involved.”

Voelker said in his Wednesday letter to the board investigator, ”The fact is that the District is attempting to use my client as a scapegoat for its willful ignorance or intentional oversight of the District’s dire financial situation.”

He pointed to “the District’s continued promotion of a false narrative that is directly contradicted by all available evidence.”

This story was originally published October 16, 2025 at 4:50 AM.