The Kentucky Executive Branch Ethics Commission has moved forward with an investigation into U.S. Senate candidate Daniel Cameron following allegations dating back to July 2023. The probe centers on claims that Cameron, then-state attorney general and gubernatorial candidate, solicited campaign donations from a company his office was investigating at the time. Cameron himself described the probe as an example of “Democrat lawfare,” suggesting it was politically motivated and timed to target his campaign.
According to reports from the Associated Press, an attorney representing Edgewater Recovery Centers stated the organization received a call from Cameron and then a campaign representative, leading to an attempt to organize a fundraiser. Cameron’s Kentucky attorney general’s office was investigating Edgewater Recovery Centers at the time, and AP noted that several Edgewater executives donated $7,600 to Cameron’s gubernatorial campaign. However, when details of the transactions and phone calls were made public, the fundraising efforts quickly dissipated, with any campaign funds returned almost immediately. Cameron’s campaign confirmed that he recused himself from the investigation and canceled the events.
Cameron’s Senate campaign, which is in full swing for Mitch McConnell’s soon-vacant seat, faces a significant challenge with only Republican Rep. Andy Barr as the other declared GOP candidate. Meanwhile, sitting Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear, who had called for the investigation in 2023, is now leading the probe. Beshear’s office also has potential presidential aspirations, and his name has been floated as a possible Democratic presidential candidate in 2028. The investigation has sparked discussions about the timing and motivations behind the probe, with Cameron suggesting it reflects a broader strategy by the left to target political opponents.