Louisville congressman expelled from committees for alleged inappropriate behavior
State Rep. Daniel Grossberg is accused of inappropriate conduct and has been removed from his committee assignments.
The recent allegations against two Democratic state lawmakers are unlikely to damage the party’s reputation ahead of the November elections, Morgan Eaves, executive director of the Kentucky Democratic Party, said Wednesday.
At an unrelated press conference, Eaves said that while the recent allegations against Daniel Grossberg and the arrest of Beverly Chester-Burton, both of Louisville, were concerning, she believes the party as a whole is gaining momentum.
“We are absolutely clear that inclusivity and safety are a tenet of our party, and we have to respect that whether you’re a voter, an elected official or a member of party leadership,” Eaves said. “… I think from now until Election Day, you’re going to see Democrats across the Commonwealth and certainly across the country continue that momentum.”
Earlier this month, the House Democratic Caucus suspended Grossberg and stripped him of his interim committee assignments after allegations that he engaged in inappropriate behavior toward several women. The House Democratic Caucus also demanded that the state Ethics Commission formally investigate complaints against him.
Grossberg and his attorney have repeatedly denied the allegations made in both media reports and the confidential ethics complaint.
Meanwhile, Chester-Burton was arrested this week for driving under the influence. It was her second such arrest in four years. According to the indictment, Chester-Burton was observed driving into the oncoming lane and “sitting there for one minute, forcing an oncoming vehicle to pass her.” She was charged with a second count of driving under the influence and one count of reckless driving.
When asked whether the reported misconduct had damaged the party’s image, Eaves said she was less concerned about that than about the people involved.
“We’re always concerned when a candidate or an elected official appears to represent some of the principles (of our party), but we also respect the due process of those processes. And when there are investigations, I think we need to follow through with them while also having serious conversations among ourselves about what that means for the party and what that means for the individuals involved,” Eaves said.
Reach reporter Hannah Pinski at @[email protected] or follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @hannahpinski.
