FRANKFORT, Ky. (LEX 18) — The lawsuit filed by Lt. Gov. Jenean Hampton against Gov. Matt Bevin is moving forward.
A hearing is set for Monday at 10 a.m.
The suit claims the governor and his staff illegally fired two of Hampton's staff members earlier this year.
The lawsuit also states that only she has the right to hire and fire her staff, and she wants the two who were let go to return to their positions.
Now Bevin's opponent in the upcoming gubernatorial election, Attorney General Andy Beshear, has come out in support of Hampton.
“I think that Jenean Hampton is just one more person that this governor has tried to bully and he can't get along with anyone including his own lieutenant governor. And the fact that he would authorize the firing of her staff and then refuse to be honest about it, because everybody, all your viewers know that the lt. governor's staff is not going to be fired without the governor's permission,” said Beshear.
Last week the governor downplayed the suit.
“There is a process for all these thing, including this, and that's why this is a non-issue. I know you're so excited at the idea of making this into something. It's nothing,” said Bevin.
Bevin took the stage on Saturday night at the Republican Party of Kentucky's annual Lincoln Dinner. While he didn't address the suit, he did praise the lieutenant governor's accomplishments.
“Currently our lieutenant governor, the first African-American to ever serve in statewide office in the history of Kentucky. Seriously, think about this, she's a Republican,” said Bevin.
Governor Bevin has a new running mate for the upcoming election - State Senator Ralph Alvarado.
