FRANKFORT, KY. (WDRB) -- Two board meetings in Frankfort, Ky. are said to be looking into alleged ethical lapses of former State Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer, but no one is confirming that.
The state Personnel Committee and the Executive Branch Ethics Commission were expected to discuss a scathing audit report two weeks ago accused Farmer of using state employees improperly. The report said those employees, who were working on state time, took him hunting and shopping, built a basketball court in his yard, mowed his lawn, and even chauffeured his dog.
The report referred to, "a toxic culture of entitlement and self-dealing at Kentucky taxpayers' expense."
Click here for a previous story on the report.
What everyone wants to know is whether or nor Farmer will face charges and if he will have to pay money back.
The report was turned over to several agencies including the IRS and Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway. Conway's office could not confirm or deny an investigation, but says a thorough review of the audit is underway to determine if criminal charges should be filed.
Meanwhile, two state boards are looking into any action they can take. The personnel board is trying to figure out what aspects of the audit they have authority over -- such as the hiring process. "There's other things that we do not have jurisdiction over. so we probably need our staff to look over the audit specifically to see what would pertain to us and what we can do with it,"
The Executive Branch Ethics Committee went into a closed meeting. Members could only tell us the committee can vote to investigate further after reviewing an audit and can charge a person over personal misconduct and code of ethics matters.
We may not find out what action, if any is taken against Farmer or any other employees until the next board meetings.
Farmer has remained silent throughout the investigation. He even refused to speak to the auditors. The audit was turned over to the IRS and Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway is still weighing whether to file criminal charges.
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