LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Oldham County's top elected official denied accusations of corruption, bribery and other claims leveled by his former second-in-charge apparently connected to a controversial data center project.
Judge-Executive David Voegele spoke at the start of a special meeting of the fiscal court Tuesday that approved a proposed moratorium on data centers, referencing allegations attributed to former deputy judge-executive Joe Ender.
The body voted, 4-2, with three members abstaining, to place the 150-day pause on data center applications with no exceptions. The freeze is meant to allow county planners to update land-use rules for the tech developments.
Speaking well before the vote, Voegele said he welcomes an investigation by Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman’s office. A Coleman spokeswoman said she could not confirm or deny any investigation.
Ender could not be reached for comment Tuesday morning, and his representatives have not yet commented by Tuesday afternoon.
A video attributed to Ender and published on social media this week said that he witnessed 'corruption, favoritism, bribery, misconduct, retaliation and abuse of power. I documented it. I spoke up, and for that I was stripped of my duties, cut off, silenced and humiliated.'
Voegele said Ender's allegations are 'false, baseless, deeply damaging — not only to my reputation, but also the trust placed in me over the last 15 years by the people of this county during his employment.'
The accusations didn't emerge until after parts of a May recording became public, Voegele said, adding that he asked those in that meeting who made the recording. Purported audio of that meeting, which apparently included representatives of the data center developer, has been shared to social media.
Voegele said he asked everyone in that meeting if they made the recording. Ender, he said, refused to answer.
That meeting has become a flashpoint in the debate over a data center, with opponents claiming it shows collusion between county officials and the developer, Western Hospitality Partners, or WHP.
Voegele also gave a confusing timeline of Ender’s job status, saying Ender wrote a letter of resignation in February 2025 because he was pursuing other employment.
Voegele then referenced the May 22 meeting that was recorded and said: 'Refusing to answer a question from the county judge related to work or activity concerning the county government is a response I cannot and will not accept from any employee.'
Voegele later recused himself and left the meeting, which continued and was punctuated by some remarks from residents in attendance. After one remark, acting meeting chair, magistrate Wayne Theiss, told the crowd: 'This won't become a free for all in here. If this continues to happen, one by one we'll ask you to leave or escort you.'
This story will be updated.
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