Rep. Daniel Grossberg, D-Louisville, has said he is the subject of an investigation by the Legislative Ethics Commission. (LRC Public Information)
Prominent Kentucky Democrats, including Gov. Andy Beshear, are calling for the resignation of Louisville Democratic Rep. Daniel Grossberg following new allegations of inappropriate behavior toward women.
Beshear addressed reporters at the Capitol Friday following a morning report from the Lexington Herald-Leader saying Grossberg received a lifetime ban from a Louisville strip club after inappropriately touching a dancer. The story also alleges Grossberg offered another dancer $5,000 to have sex with him.
“I want to once again state clearly and unequivocally that Representative Grossberg should resign,” Beshear said. “He should resign.”
Beshear added that Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman was releasing her own statement to call for Grossberg’s resignation. Beshear said he and Coleman “stand united together” in believing that calling for Grossberg’s resignation “is the right thing to do.
“And I hope he hears it, and I hope he follows it,” Beshear said.
As the governor’s press conference ended, Kentucky Democratic Party Chair Colmon Elridge released a statement calling Grossberg “unfit to serve” in office.
“Every individual deserves to be held accountable for their own actions — particularly those who represent Kentuckians in the halls of our Capitol,” Eldrige said. “Representative Grossberg has repeatedly proven that he is unfit to serve and must resign from office.”
The latest revelations follow the House Democratic Caucus temporarily suspending Grossberg after asking the Legislative Ethics Commission to investigate allegations that he sent inappropriate text messages to women earlier this summer. Grossberg has also been asked to “temporarily refrain from participating” in Louisville Democratic Party events and removed from interim committee assignments.
Two women anonymously quoted in an August Herald-Leader story about their interactions with Grossberg recently publicly identified themselves. They are Lexington Fayette Urban County Council candidate Emma Curtis and Kentucky Young Democrats President Allison Wiseman.
Grossberg represents the 30th House District, which includes central parts of Jefferson County.
Beshear said last month that Grossberg should seriously consider if “a public office is the best or most appropriate place for him to be at this time.”
Friday morning, Democratic Kentucky Congressman Morgan McGarvey and Rep. Chad Aull, D-Lexington, called for Grossberg’s resignation Friday morning. Chair of the Louisville Democratic Party Logan Gatti also called on the representative to resign Friday.
Previously, the executive board of Kentucky Young Democrats called on Grossberg to resign after reviewing evidence it had seen at the time and “the experiences of multiple board members.” Louisville Young Democrats and Fayette County Young Democrats have also called on Grossberg to resign.
Beshear said he believed impeachment was the only way to remove a state legislator who refused to resign, barring them losing reelection in a subsequent election.
Grossberg, who is in his first term in the House, narrowly won his primary election by 50 votes. He does not face a Republican challenger in the upcoming general election.
Grossberg’s attorney, Anna Whites, did not immediately return a request for comment Friday morning.
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