Fast Ernie Fletcher doesn't realize exactly what he's into here does he? This investigation is coming around to him and will very shortly. The governor's office is proving to be quite inept at running things. This story by Joe Biesk at the AP shed some light onto the subject.

Fletcher blames whistleblower for state personnel decisions

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) -- Gov. Ernie Fletcher said the Transportation Cabinet employee who blew the whistle on his administration's questionable personnel practices should have helped make proper hiring decisions, rather than collect evidence and "set people up."

Fletcher, a Republican, also claimed that former state employee Doug Doerting was a friend of "the attorney general," whose office has been conducting the investigation. A spokeswoman for Stumbo, who is a Democrat, said the attorney general never met Doerting until he came forward with evidence.

"Why wasn't there any complaint from (Doerting) when part of his duties appeared to make sure things were run well?" Fletcher said in an interview on WHAS-AM radio.

Prosecutors in Stumbo's office have been investigating the Fletcher administration since May, when Doerting gained "whistleblower" protection and brought forth reams of documents alleging Merit System improprieties. The system was designed in 1960 to protect rank and file state employees from political influence; and merit jobs are supposed to be filled on candidates' qualifications, not their connections.

So far, a special Franklin County grand jury has indicted nine current or former members of the administration on misdemeanor allegations stemming from the investigation. One of the nine, Dan Druen, has also been charged with more than 20 felony counts that include allegations of witness tampering.

On Thursday, Fletcher claimed Doerting was one of the people responsible for making sure administration officials followed the law. Fletcher criticized Doerting, claiming he did not raise any complaints before going to prosecutors.

"If we see something that we think is illegal going on, it's our responsibility to report it, not to sit and to collect things and to set people up and to tell them it's OK, or at least not tell them it's wrong and then to, you know, collect a lot of information and eventually play a little gotcha," Fletcher said.

The governor claimed Doerting and the attorney general had "some close ties, some friendships."

Fletcher spokeswoman Carla Blanton said later that Fletcher was not referring to Attorney General Greg Stumbo, but his office. Blanton said Doerting knew the sons of a former Democratic state representative who now works for Stumbo.

"The governor's statements are not true," Stumbo spokeswoman Vicki Glass said. "The attorney general does not recall ever meeting Doug Doerting and only became aware of him when Doerting brought documentation showing violations of merit hiring laws to our office."

Doerting's attorney said he hadn't yet spoken with his client about the governor's comments and declined comment.


Response

The problem here is if Doerting did point out these issues to Fletcher, he would surely have been fired like he was. There appears to be an ongoing debate on whether or not he was even fired legally anyway. If Doerting did his job properly, I would say these proceedings might have happened anyway because most of Fletcher's inner circle is involved. I keep waiting for this scandal to circle back around to Fletcher and if he'd indicted on felony counts, I'd say the impeachment proceedings will happen. At the rate things are going though, we'll have to have a special gubernatorial election between now and 2007 because there won't be anyone left in the administration to do the job.

posted by Stithmeister @ 7:58 PM
 
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