The Kentucky state Senate impeached an elected official for the first time since 1885.
The Senate convicted former Commonwealth’s Attorney Ronnie Goldy Jr. — representing Rowan, Menifee, Bath, and Montgomery counties — of three articles of impeachment over allegations of requesting nude photos in exchange for legal favors.
The impeachment conviction is the first since 1885 when the upper chamber convicted state Treasurer James “Honest Dick” Tate for stealing around $200,000 from the Commonwealth before fleeing. He was never found.
“We the people, through their representatives, the legislature, should decide that that person cannot hold office,” said Sen. Mike Nemes (R-Shephersville).
Neither Goldy nor his legal counsel appeared before the impeachment committee last week.
Kenton County Commonwealth Attorney Rob Sanders testified during the House impeachment hearings in February. Sanders told the committee during his testimony, “if not now, when would you ever impeach a Commonwealth Attorney?”
Sanders’ testimony came after the Kentucky Commonwealth Attorneys Association pushed for the impeachment of Goldy and removed him from the organization.
The House impeached Goldy 97-0 in February, after he resigned from his position the day before the vote. His impeachment by the Senate will prevent Goldy from running for future offices.
The House committee reviewed 199 pages of Facebook messages between Goldy and a woman in Bath County regarding her criminal cases and findings from a special report.
In the final report from the House Committee, it concurred with the facts presented by the Special Commissioner appointed by the Supreme Court. The findings showed that Goldy was in personal contact with the woman from Bath County and discussed her criminal cases without the presence of her lawyer.
“It’s important for Ronnie Goldy to be impeached because Kentuckians must have faith in the criminal justice system, but that’s not possible when a Commonwealth’s Attorney is being dishonest and abusing the public’s trust,” Sanders said.
In a letter to the House impeachment committee, Goldy denied the allegations and said the messages between him and the woman weren’t what “have been reported.”
“I can tell you at no time did I ever ask for nude images or video,” Goldy said, though he did say he helped the Bath County woman, and she sent nude photos without being prompted.
Goldy, however, failed to appear before the committee.