LOUISVILLE, KY. (WDRB) -- A special prosecutor has decided that no criminal charges should be filed against Metro Councilwoman Barbara Shanklin.  The report looked at allegations she used her office to benefit family members and herself. 

Click HERE to read the report.

The bottom line of this report to the LMPD Public Integrity Unit is that Shanklin did not commit any crimes in her actions.  The special prosecutor reviewed only to determine if Shanklin had done anything criminally.  The report does not address any allegations of ethics violations or nepotism.

"I could not find anything" that merited criminal charges, said special prosecutor Robert Schaefer.  He is an assistant commonwealth's attorney for Breckinridge, Grayson and Meade Counties.  He was appointed to review the allegations after Jefferson County Commonwealth's Attorney Tom Wine decided his office would have a conflict of interest in investigating Shanklin.

Shanklin's attorney, Aubrey Williams, told WDRB News Friday afternoon he had not seen the report; however, after being told of its contents, he said it reinforced what he and Shanklin have said all along – "namely, that she has not done anything wrong."

Metro Council members are deciding whether to convene a hearing to remove Shanklin from office.

The Louisville Metro Ethics Commission previously had found that Shanklin violated city ethics code.  On March 14, the Metro Ethics Commission recommended that Shanklin be removed from office.  

Shanklin has denied all of the allegations against her.  The commission held hearings in November in which Shanklin walked out twice at the direction of her attorney to avoid possibly incriminating herself in testimony.

Previous stories: 

Louisville Metro Council begins process to remove Barbara Shanklin from office

ETHICS COMMISSION: Barbara Shanklin should be removed from office

Police begin criminal probe into Councilwoman Barbara Shanklin

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