Rand Paul visits Lexmark headquarters, discusses Bevin, impeachment and the whistleblower

LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) – Senator Rand Paul stood behind a podium at Lexmark headquarters in Lexington, but he certainly didn’t hide behind it. The United States Senator, who calls Bowling Green home, addressed a wide variety of topics ranging from Governor Bevin’s concession speech, to his desire to have the Ukraine whistleblower testify. The Lexmark visit was the first in what will be a three-stop tour across Kentucky on Friday, to meet with business executives and many of their employees.

“I think my job is to help any business in Kentucky, to help them expand and grow and help them remove any Government obstacles they may have to expanding and growing,” Senator Paul said to begin his remarks.

As the conversation drifted towards other topics, Paul, a Republican, admitted he is against the Impeachment hearings which continued in Washington as he spoke.

“I think the one thing that is certain is that both parties have threatened the aid to Ukraine unless they get what they want,” Paul said. “Joe Biden went there and said, ‘I’m going to cut your aid off if you don’t fire this one prosecutor,’” he said referencing the prosecutor who may have been investigating the relationship between Biden’s son, Hunter and his employment with a Ukrainian Oligarch.

And as Senator Paul has said before, if there is a whistleblower with pertinent information that is relevant to the proceedings in Washington, he feels that person needs to come forward and testify. (Paul actually revealed the identity of this person in a radio interview with WMAL on Wednesday.) “I do think whistleblowers deserve protection,” Paul said. “But at the same time if you’re going to accuse someone of a crime, there’s a competing influence here,” he continued, referencing the 6^th Amendment and the right to face your accuser. “Also sounds like there’s opinion here on whether or not this was a crime. Another reason this whistleblower needs to come forward and be cross examined is, (he) worked in President Obama’s White House, worked for Joe Biden and I think traveled with Joe Biden to Ukraine,” said Paul.

Paul was also very candid when discussing Kentucky’s Gubernatorial race, which finally ended on Thursday when Governor Matt Bevin conceded, allowing Attorney General Andy Beshear to officially assume the title of Governor-Elect, paving the way for his inauguration on December 10th. “…Obviously not as excited that the Republicans lost the Governor’s race, but I do think the Republican party is still strong in Kentucky and in some ways growing stronger,” Paul said. He also cited GOP victories in other state elections, Kentucky’s low unemployment rate, and the increase in median incomes as accomplishments, of which to be proud when talking about the success of the term of our out-going Governor.

Paul stressed the need for Kentucky’s Republican-led legislature to now work with the new Governor, much as they are in Washington. The Senator painted a picture that is very different from what most think of the situation there at this time. “The acrimony and anger isn’t as bad as people make it out to be,” he said. “Ron Wyden (U.S. Senator-Oregon), and I are good friends even though he’s a progressive Democrat and I’m a conservative Republican. I think there’s more cooperation than is actually reported, in Washington.”