Recapping Daniel Grossberg case: How investigation into KY state rep. has played out

For roughly a year, Kentucky Rep. Daniel Grossberg, D-Louisville, has been under scrutiny for allegations of ethical misconduct and inappropriate behavior toward women.

The Legislative Ethics Commission is preparing to hold a public adjudicatory hearing in the coming months to dig into three complaints against Grossberg — complaints the commission has said likely violate the Kentucky Code of Legislative Ethics.

Grossberg has denied ethical wrongdoing.

Here’s a breakdown of the events that have led to this point, including initial Herald-Leader coverage, calls for his resignation, the commission’s preliminary findings and the latest in a lawsuit Grossberg filed to try and stop the ethics probe from continuing.

Timeline of Grossberg reporting

• Initial investigation (July 2024): Grossberg was investigated by Kentucky’s Legislative Research Commission following accusations of inappropriate interactions with multiple women. The interactions involved sending unwanted, sexually suggestive late-night text messages commenting on their appearances, causing discomfort and fear among recipients.
• Temporary caucus suspension (July-August 2024): The Kentucky House Democratic Caucus temporarily suspended Grossberg pending an ethics investigation into his conduct. Democratic leadership cited serious concerns over the allegations and formally requested the Legislative Ethics Commission investigate further.
• College behavior resurfaces (August 2024): The Herald-Leader published a story related to Grossberg’s past at Grinnell College, where he wrote a controversial satirical advice column under the alias “Sketchy Dan.” His writings jokingly encouraged persistent and aggressive pursuit of women, sparking a campus controversy that drew sharp criticism and some defense of his writings.

• Expanded allegations (August 2024): Three more women detailed troubling experiences with Grossberg in a Herald-Leader story, alleging harassment that included invasive questions about their personal lives and unwanted, sexually explicit text messages. These accounts portrayed Grossberg as misusing his position of power to intimidate younger women working in Kentucky politics, amplifying calls from within the Democratic circles for his resignation.

• Strip club incidents (September 2024): Grossberg was permanently banned from Foxys Gentlemen’s Club in Louisville after incidents involving inappropriate touching of a dancer and solicitation for sex from another, offering as much as $5,000, according to a Herald-Leader report. Witnesses recounted that Grossberg threatened staff by leveraging his legislative status, stating he could shut down the club.
• Permanent expulsion from caucus, Beshear reacts (September 2024): Hours after publication of the story detailing the incidents at Foxys, the Kentucky House Democratic Caucus permanently expelled Grossberg, revoking all legislative privileges. The action barred Grossberg from caucus meetings, committee assignments and other internal party deliberations. The two top elected Democrats in the state, Gov. Andy Beshear and Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman, both called on him to resign.
• JCPS school trip investigation (October 2024): Jefferson County Public Schools investigated claims of Grossberg’s misconduct during a student trip abroad that he helped chaperone. The investigation concluded there was insufficient evidence to support the claims.
• Committee assignments controversy (January 2025): Despite ongoing ethics investigations and condemnation within his own party, Grossberg was assigned to three legislative committees by House GOP leadership. This decision sparked criticism from Democrats and Grossberg’s accusers, who argued it undermined the seriousness of the allegations.
• Judicial intervention denied (June 2025): Grossberg attempted to halt the ethics investigation into him through legal action, claiming discrimination based on his Jewish faith and neurodivergence. A Franklin Circuit Court judge swiftly rejected those arguments, allowing the Legislative Ethics Commission’s inquiry to continue.
• Ethics Commission hearing (June-July 2025): The Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission held extensive hearings, including testimony from women who accused Grossberg of sexual harassment as well as Foxys management. The commission ultimately found probable cause supporting three counts against him, notably his intimidation of a business entity and inappropriate questioning and offering of alcohol to a woman in his legislative office, paving the way for further adjudicative proceedings.
• Proposed ethics code revision (July 2025): The ethics commission recommended explicitly defining and prohibiting sexual harassment as ethical misconduct in Kentucky law. Lawmakers have been urged to adopt these changes to ensure future accountability.
• Legal battles continue (July 2025): In response to Grossberg’s lawsuit alleging retaliation and discrimination by the Ethics Commission and former Democratic leadership, the commission has requested the lawsuit’s dismissal. The commission maintains that it has an obligation and authority to investigate the serious allegations against him.

Disclaimer: This story used AI to help aggregate important updates from previous Herald-Leader reports. This work was checked by Herald-Leader reporters and an editor for accuracy in accordance with our AI policy.