Hebert repeats allegations of extortion of campaign contributions on KET

Many KYPolitics.org readers are viewers of KET's Comment on Kentucky. This past Friday, we watched Comment to see Ferrell Wellman host his first show as the permanent host. Wellman appears to be settling in well to his new role.

But there was one exchange between Comment panelists Mark Hebert and Al Cross that was so outrageous, we had to YouTube it so our readers could examine the import of the exchange. Last week, we reported that Hebert had made the allegation on his WHAS TV blog that members of House Democrat leadership were holding up changes in the casino bill favorable to the horse industry in exchange for campaign contributions from members of the horse industry. The hefty implications of such an accusation made us wonder why someone would report this activity to a member of the media rather than law enforcement, but we still posted an excerpt from Hebert's blog.

On last Friday's Comment, Hebert reasserted the allegation on statewide television:

Hebert: "If you listen to the folks from the tracks, they're saying that they're being essentially held hostage by one faction in the House, folks who want them to pony up and commit X number of dollars for all the House races later on this fall. And, 'Hey if you give us the money, and you commit some money to all our candidates, that are Democrats, you know what? We'll back off this thing of uh, uh, you know, of requiring you to have local voters approve it, or we'll back off this thing of nine potential casinos but no guarantee that you tracks will get any. You know we'll make it a little more friendly to you.'"

We're surprised that Hebert finds the prospect of Democrat legislators demanding campaign contributions from race tracks in exchange for favorable changes in casino legislation to be merely procedural "deal making." Hebert even laughs at the prospect that many would consider this activity criminal extortion. Cross is not much better, offering sarcastic mock surprise that members of the Kentucky General Assembly would engage in extortion. At least Cross realized that the activity that Hebert described was criminal, rather than part of a normal legislative process.

Mark Hebert had been a reporter for WHAS TV for five years when the FBI arrested 15 members of the Kentucky General Assembly for taking bribes to influence the content and outcome of legislation from 1992 to 1994. That was Operation BOPTROT - with the "TROT" portion of the moniker referring to the fact that it was members of the horse industry offering the legislators bribes. Today, it's the same industry that paid bribes in BOPTROT that Hebert claims is being extorted for campaign contributions for Democrat members of the House.

Mark, people go to prison for the activity you allege is ongoing among Democrats in the Kentucky House of Representatives. The representatives of Kentucky's horse racing tracks who have claimed they have been told they need to pony up a campaign contribution to get the changes they want in the casino bill should call the FBI immediately. Otherwise, they risk becoming complicit in bribing a public offical. Extortion of campaign contributions and bribery of elected officials is not a laughing matter.

Unfortunately, if Hebert's allegations are true, it would appear that some members of the Kentucky Legislature have not learned the lessons of the Kentucky's sordid past. We sure hope he's wrong, but we aren't crossing our fingers.

If you are aware of details that relate to the situation Hebert describes, call the FBI. The FBI's Louisville field office phone number is (502) 583-3941.

Ignoring or assuming that this kind of activity is normal only condones it. Honest, ethical government in Kentucky depends on all of us to root out this type of corruption.

Comments

If this involved Republicans, we would have a 3-part series about it in the Herald-Leader. The Courier-Journal would write an editorial begging the FBI to investigate. And Hebert would be roaming the back halls of the Capitol, trying to find someone from the tracks who would go on camera claiming they were extorted.

Since it involves Democrats, it's just a joke to the media. Pathetic!

When I first heard Hebert report this I didn't think this story had legs. Now, I'm not so sure.

It's been 16 years since BOPTROT and it seems BOPTROT II to just around the corner. Does it surprise me that Democrats are once again involved in an extortion scandal? Hell No! But, this is just the beginning of what's to come. If our legislators are already on the take we can look forward to the mayors, council members and commissioners of the cities that get casinos to become bought and paid for by casino owners. Remember what happened in the 60's in Newport, KY when George Ratterman butted heads with the mafia? They drugged him and put him in bed with a local prostitute. The photo was on the front page of the local paper the next day. It ruined his political career.

One can only hope the feds come in to investigate and put a stop to this immediately. KY deserves better.

Nail 'em up!

[GOP Hitman]

"GIVE ME A HAMMER, and I'LL NAIL 'EM UP!"

"NAIL 'EM UP!"

I am curious, are you familiar with the concept of
hearsay? Also, in this country we have this little thing required in criminal law called evidence.
It’s required before you convict someone. Unnamed
sources or repeating something some on said second
hand. That’s called hearsay. Additionally, if you
immune someone’s character without proof, it’s
called slander or liable.

Until you get some evidence or at the very least
someone on the record, keep you gob shut.

1:46 - "Liable?" Do you mean "libel?" Brett has only posted the words of Mark Hebert. I wouldn't be surprised if Hebert hasn't already gotten a call from the feds to ask him for the source of his information.

If the House Dems don't agree with Hebert or Hall, maybe they ought to refute it. There's been nothing but silence since Hebert posted it on his blog and repeated it on LIVE STATEWIDE television.

Hebert and Brett have carefully avoided accusing specific legislators, so it would be pretty funny if a particular one accused them of slandering or libeling him or her. Might make them look kinda guilty.

I suspect Hebert's source named names, and I hope Hebert has the integrity to let the FBI know about the details of this extortion that he obviously has no problem reporting on.

[bluegrassredstate]

maybe hebert should have to disclose his personal finances to prove that he isn't being paid to not press this issue.

[Phil]

What are the chances that the tracks report this to the feds? Seems pretty slim to me. If they blow the whistle on the House Dems, it will kill the casino amendment.

If this is going to be stopped, the FBI will need to do a sting operation like the did during Boptrot.

Catch Richards and the rest on tape like they did Don Blandford taking the payoff.

[smith]

Don't blame me. I voted for Fletcher.

Have to disagree with Brett's piece in the H-L today. McCain is not a conservative. No conservative would have supported McCain-Feingold and amnesty for illegals, and opposed Bush's tax cuts.

I'm voting third party in this election if there is a decent libertarian candidate. I really woudn't mind a one-term D presidency as long as we have enough R's in the senate to filibuster really bad legislation. We'll take back one or both houses of Congress in 2010 after two years of a Hillobama administration, and hopefully a real conservative on our ticket in 2012.

I'm disappointed in Limbaugh and Hannity for saying basically, since we're stuck with him, we won't oppose him too vociferously now. They've acquiesced which is exactly what the McCainiacs were counting on.

Not me. I'd rather have a real D than a D in R clothing.

[Marc Carey]

Brett is right to keep this story up until it catches the attention of a trustworthy source to investigate it. So far we have Mark Hebert. That's a good start when it comes to breaking a big story like this.

Now it needs to be investigated by a US Attorney to avoid any taint of politics which might be alleged either way.

Other than the Attorney General himself there are only two other categories of state prosecuting attorneys authorized to initiate a case of this sort: Commonwealth's Attorneys and County Attorneys. All three offices were filled by election and will be again at some point in the future.

The most competent state prosecutor does not deserve to suffer through the kind of scrutiny and second guessing which will inevitably come with the attention this type case will gather. It may be their job to pursue these matters, but we all know that an investigation of this sort into ties between gambling interests and elected officials will impose tremendous pressures not a single one of them bargained for.

Moreover, those inclined to condemn our system of justice will find a way to ursurp the attention attracted to this case and convert it into their own platform from which they will not only attempt to influence the outcome of the case itself, but they will do it at the expense of further eroding the public's confidence in our laws and constitution.

The integrity of the innocent requires a completely unbiased investigation. The conviction of the guilty, requires a completely unbiased investigation.

The public trust requires that this matter undergo a thorough and a completely unbiased investigation as well. But the public trust also requires something else in addition to that.

For the sake of the public's trust in our system of justice, nothing short of immediate attention is required.

[Question Please]

And does anyone know what this is about please? This waslifted from another blog and it is talking about Mark Hebert.
Somebody oughta ask Mark about that ethics complaint that has been filed against Kathy Stein and why he is a part of it.

I hate Kathy Stein! She should be impeached!

Hey 6:23 - While I would love nothing more than to see Kathy Stein impeached because she votes on Bills where she has a financial vested interest, I don't find any ethics complaint against her.

Where is it? Can I join the party & sign my name on the complaint? Or, did you just make that up?

[Billy Berue]

Bribery/Extortion are state as well as federal crimes. A corollary story might also implicate the executive branch.

I would query whether KY's current Att'y General is conducting any type of investigation regarding these allegations??? The democratic AG's office spent MILLIONS of taxpayer dollars chasing a republican governor over misdemeanor allegations. Surely, potential felonies of this magnitude would require at least some kind of investigation. If not, I would venture to say that Conway is wholly derelict in his duties.

Another sad and pathetic day in the annals of Ky state government history. . . .