LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The father of Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes has been indicted on charges related to her failed 2014 Democratic U.S. Senate campaign.
The 10-count federal indictment claims Jerry Lundergan used his company, S.R. Holding Company, Inc., to make illegal contributions to her campaign. Investigators found he made corporate contributions over $25,000, which is against election law.
The indictments say Jerry Lundergan also conspired to cover up the contributions by making false entries in the campaign's financial records.
A political consultant to Grimes' campaign, Dale C. Emmons, was also indicted, accused of billing Jerry Lundergan instead of the campaign.
Lundergan is a former Democratic state lawmaker and chairman of the Kentucky Democratic Party. He has close ties to Bill and Hillary Clinton, both of whom came to campaign for Grimes during her failed 2014 bid to unseat Sen. Mitch McConnell.
Grimes is considering a run for governor in 2019. In a news release, she said she believes her father will be vindicated.
"Today, the Department of Justice announced charges against my father stemming from my 2014 campaign for the United States Senate.
These allegations started as a result of a politically motivated complaint filed against my campaign nearly five years ago. That complaint was already investigated and completely dismissed by the bipartisan Federal Election Commission.
I love my father, and I have faith in the judgment and fairness of the people of Kentucky, and believe when all of the facts are in, my father will be vindicated.
Because this matter is in the courtroom and not the world of politics, I have no further comment."
Republican Party of Kentucky Communications Director Tres Watson issued the following statement in response to the indictment.
“At the same time that she was serving as Kentucky’s Secretary of State and chief elections officer, Alison Lundergan Grimes’ ran a US Senate campaign that now stands accused of the most egregious campaign finance crime in the history of the Commonwealth.
Between this week’s revelations at the State Board of Elections and today’s indictment, it is clear Secretary Grimes has absolutely no regard for the laws governing our elections that she was elected to uphold. That is why we are asking Secretary Grimes to recuse herself and her office from any and all election related activities this election cycle and cede control of this fall’s elections to the other 6 members of the State Board of Elections.”
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