Top KY Dems suspend Rep. Daniel Grossberg from caucus, call for ethics investigation
Top Democratic leaders Wednesday called for the Legislative Ethics Commission to investigate claims against Rep. Daniel Grossberg, who has been accused of inappropriate interactions with women.
Among the complaints from at least three women who have been interviewed by the Herald-Leader include “creepy” and “weird” texts they describe as being inappropriate. That includes a text the Louisville Democrat sent to two women 16 months ago inviting them to a “lesbian-themed movie night.”
House Democratic caucus members called for the additional ethics probe into the conduct of Grossberg, a first-term legislator from the state’s 30th District. He was already under investigation by the Legislative Research Commission for his conduct, the Herald-Leader reported Tuesday evening.
“This morning, Kentucky House Democratic Caucus members voted to temporarily suspend state Rep. Daniel Grossberg from the caucus and to request a formal investigation by the Legislative Ethics Commission,” Democratic leaders wrote.
“We believe this is the appropriate organization to review the issues that have been raised. Given the sensitive nature of these allegations, we have no further comment at this time.”
The three leaders of the House Democrats are Minority Floor Leader Derrick Graham of Frankfort, Caucus Chair Cherlynn Stevenson of Lexington and Whip Rachel Roberts of Newport.
The Legislative Ethics Commission is an independent authority within state government that is partially charged with enforcing the Code of Legislative Ethics, which includes enforcing that code conduct for sitting legislators.
Grossberg was already being investigated by attorneys with the Legislative Research Commission, known as the LRC.
Anna Whites, Grossberg’s Frankfort attorney, told the Herald-Leader her client “appreciates the hard work” the LRC is putting into “protecting the public interest, and (Grossberg) welcomes their investigation and looks forward to answering any of their questions.”
On Tuesday evening, Grossberg denied any impropriety.
“I never, in my work, approached or crossed a line in my professional communications. Any claim that private texts on my personal cell phone are work related have no merit. I steadfastly deny any impropriety,” Grossberg said in a statement released by Whites.
The Herald-Leader Tuesday reported four sources have independently shared their stories and details of the state’s investigation.
Three of the sources are women who said they have been contacted within the past two weeks by Legislative Research Commission staffers, including lawyers. They have been asked about specific actions, questionable behavior and text messages sent by Grossberg.
The women who shared text messages with the Herald-Leader from Grossberg described the correspondence as “weird” or “creepy.” Those messages often came late at night, and Grossberg remarked on their physical looks. All of the text messages were reviewed by the Herald-Leader to ensure their authenticity.
He complimented one for her “exotic” appearance, and described how “beautiful” another one was.
In a group text with two women in April 2023, Grossberg suggested they join him for a “lesbian-themed movie night” that involved “lesbian baking” and “pajamas.”
After that exchange, one of the women wrote in a text to the other, “I just don’t know how to process state rep 30 daniel grossberg suggesting a lesbian slumber party.”
This breaking story will be updated.
This story was originally published July 31, 2024 at 1:20 PM.
