Kentucky senator faces ethics complaint over allegation she pocketed money from nonprofit
A Louisville constituent filed an official ethics complaint against a Republican state senator who is alleged to have pocketed more than $80,000 from her own non-profit, Kentucky Strong.
Emily Brook Benningfield, of Louisville, filed an ethics complaint last week against Sen. Julie Raque Adams, R-Louisville, after it was reported Adams made money from the non-profit which is funded largely by interests lobbied in the General Assembly.
The information regarding Adams’ funds was first reported by the Kentucky Lantern last week.
Since 2015, Adams has served as the executive director of Kentucky Strong Inc., a non-profit “dedicated to training Republican women to seek and hold public office,” according to tax returns filed with the Internal Revenue Service.
Adams has received $80,500 since 2023, according to The Kentucky Lantern. During that same time, Kentucky Strong was funded exclusively by General Assembly interests, including $50,000 from Revolutionary Racing, which operates Sandy’s Racing & Gaming in Ashland; $25,000 from Churchill Downs; $15,000 from Charter Communications; and $15,000 from LG&E and KU Energy.
But Adams told The Lantern she received “nominal compensation” from the non-profit, which averaged out to roughly $7,300 a year. In Benningfield’s complaint, she claims Adams underreported and did not disclose properly the funds she received.
In a Facebook post April 8, Adams denied any wrongdoing.
“What is being alleged is grossly misconstrued. I’m the Executive Director of an 11-year old organization I founded to help Republican women be successful in winning elections and staying in office,” Adams said. “It’s small, it’s a support that’s there for those who need it and everything has been properly disclosed with the IRS.”
In Benningfield’s ethics complaint, she alleges Adams committed the following violations:
- Accepting compensation for performance of legislative duties
- Accepting value from legislative agents and employers
- Use of official position to obtain financial gain
- Conflict between personal interest and public duty
- Conflict of interest vote prohibition
- False or misleading financial disclosure
Benningfield is a constituent of Louisville who regularly made donations to the Jefferson County Democratic Party, according to the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance database.
She also made donations to Democratic Senator Gary Clemons. In 2025, Benninfield made $390 worth of donations to the Democratic Party and Clemons.
The Democratic candidate for Adams’ district, Sarah Cole McIntosh, issued a statement Friday condemning the allegations.
“My opponent Julie Raque Adams has funneled into her own pocket over $80,000 in corporate donations and contributions from lobbyists, while serving as chair of a committee with authority over these groups. Kentuckians deserve answers, and I look forward to a thorough investigation from the Ethics Commission,” McIntosh said.
The Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission is an independent authority within the Legislative Department of state government. It is charged with the enforcement of the state ethics code and is composed of nine citizen members. The code regulates conduct by legislators, lobbyists and the employers of lobbyists.
This story was originally published April 12, 2026 at 11:12 AM.
