‘Power-struck’ Daniel Grossberg is alone on a political island. How long can he survive?
Long before Daniel Grossberg was accused of harassing women and offering money for sex in a strip club, he was paranoid about his political future.
“He’s a very suspicious person. He’s always thought that people were out to get him … and come after him politically,” said Jared Smith, a Democratic political consultant who has had conversations with Grossberg over the past nine years.
“And he may think this is just an extension of that. But it’s clearly not.”
The Herald-Leader’s investigation of the 46-year-old Louisville state representative’s personal conduct has left Grossberg on a lonely political island. From Gov. Andy Beshear on down, Kentucky Democrats have — almost universally — abandoned him. He’s been shunned by his House Democratic colleagues, tossed off of committees and banned from party events.
And yet Grossberg, who has denied all allegations of sexual harassment and soliciting prostitution, shows no signs of going away, nearly guaranteed to secure another term a month from now. He faces no opponent in his reelection bid for the 30th House District.
Those who have interacted with him can only explain his intransigence by a blind, but searing ambition and a refusal to face up to reality.
“He does not believe his communication back and forth rises to the level of sexual harassment,” said Jason Perkey, a Democratic strategist who spoke with Grossberg on Aug. 5th following the initial reports about his inappropriate interactions with women.
“He is totally power-struck, and he thinks he can influence people with power that is non-existent…The ego on this guy is not measurable because it’s so big.”
Grossberg did not return Herald-Leader requests for comment for this story.
Scandalized politicians stubbornly clinging to power at all levels is nothing new.
Sarasota, Florida School Board member Bridget Ziegler has held on to her seat for months despite a chorus of calls for her resignation due to a sexual tryst. New Jersey’s Bob Menendez refused to leave his U.S. Senate seat until he was convicted of bribery in court. New York U.S. Rep. George Santos remained defiant in the face of a federal indictment until the House voted to expel him.
Which is to say, Grossberg may not leave Frankfort unless he’s forced to. He’s the lawmaker who refuses to leave the legislature, despite the chorus of “You’re no longer welcome here” calls.
Could an ethics query lead to expulsion?
Grossberg’s defiance is putting the commonwealth’s power structure under a stress test that will determine whether one man can overcome the damning stories of more than a half-dozen women and the weight of a party.
“He can stay until the legislature votes to remove him, and I’m not even sure the Republican legislature will even choose to do that,” Perkey said.
Grossberg’s dogged pursuit of political power over the last decade may help explain why he’s so reluctant to relinquish it.
Before even setting his sights on Kentucky’s general assembly, Grossberg logged two failed runs for county commissioner and an unsuccessful statewide gambit for treasurer.
When Grossberg, who is Jewish, lost his first try at a legislative seat in 2020, he almost immediately decided on a re-run.
“I’m running again in 2022 — same seat,” he told The Jerusalem Post weeks after his June 2020 primary defeat.
Indeed, Grossberg dove right back into another campaign. But this time, he’d make a personal investment to dislodge a 24-term incumbent, loaning his candidacy $105,000.
A 3-point victory in Kentucky’s 30th House district was secured.
With the 2024 election less than five weeks away, Grossberg sits on the ballot unopposed, allowing him to earn another full term without a challenge. He staved off a primary opponent by just 50 votes in May.
By law that would make him a legislator until January 2027, unless the Republican majority gets on board with expulsion proceedings to remove him — an extraordinary step that most lawmakers aren’t yet willing to broach.
“Our caucus has voted to permanently expel him, and I have no further comment at this time,” said Lexington Rep. Cherlynn Stevenson, the chair of the House Democratic caucus.
A Kentucky state lawmaker hasn’t been removed since the Civil War era, when the commonwealth operated under its previous constitution. It would take a two-thirds majority vote in the House to boot him.
While most Democrats have abandoned Grossberg, some Republicans are refusing to pass judgment, especially before the ethics inquiry runs its course.
“As far as the ethics complaint, he is entitled to his day in court to defend himself and due process, as everyone should be,” said Rep. John Hodgson, R-Fisherville, who has co-sponsored privacy legislation with Grossberg.
The ethics inquiry is largely shrouded in secrecy.
Kentucky’s Legislative Ethics Commission will begin a probe of Grossberg’s conduct to determine whether there’s probable cause of a violation.
“They can dismiss it on the face of the complaint … or make a reason to believe the finding, which merely means it merits further inquiry,” said Emily Dennis, the commission’s executive director, who explained that even the timetable for the inquiry is protected by statute.
Dennis said state law directs that the commission only has to make its finding public if it reaches the adjudicatory stage, when a hearing is required.
Even if they conclude Grossberg has violated the code of conduct for general assembly members, the commission can choose to issue a confidential reprimand through a warning letter.
“If they do that it remains confidential,” Dennis said.
Whether there will be a clamoring for the conclusion to be made public remains to be seen.
When former State Rep. Robert Goforth was charged in 2020 with strangulation and assault of his wife, Republicans allowed him to remain in their caucus. Goforth ultimately resigned in 2021.
Grossberg has not been criminally charged with anything.
‘Is this repairable?’
Democratic legislative candidates who received money from Grossberg like Matthew Lehman and Aaron Currin have returned the funds and called for Grossberg to resign. They say while his transgressions are disturbing, they have not become a distraction for them as they campaign in their districts.
“Whether or not he’s a drag on the Kentucky Democratic Party is irrelevant,” said Currin, an attorney running in the 65th House District in Northern Kentucky.
“What’s most important here is that nobody should face harassment in their place of work, or anywhere, and individuals who abuse their power must be held accountable.”
Amy Jean Tyler, a Democratic activist in Kentucky said she was unwilling to abandon Grossberg because she believes he’s taken accountability for his uncomfortable comments and is seeking treatment for his impulses.
“I’ve always considered him a good human,” she said. “Is this repairable? I’m not sure, but I think they should allow him to go through the process.”
Those who have been observing the story say Grossberg may believe he can simply wait out the storm by putting his head down and hoping that a ripple of future political story lines will blot out his tawdry circumstance.
But even if he remains in his seat into the new session in January, he’s already being referred to as a ghost legislator who will wield little power to craft legislation, effectively leaving 45,000 Louisville residents without representation.
The charge of ineffectiveness will be an easy political target for a Democratic primary challenger in May 2026.
“I know he always wanted this, and he probably just doesn’t want to give it away,” said Smith.
“I don’t see how you would think you would stay there forever, knowing that when the next primary comes, you’re probably gone.”
This story was originally published October 2, 2024 at 12:32 PM with the headline "‘Power-struck’ Daniel Grossberg is alone on a political island. How long can he survive?."
