Senate impeachment panel, first in 135 years, formed for Kentucky prosecutor Ronnie Goldy
FRANKFORT — The Kentucky Senate formed an impeachment committee Wednesday to consider the possible conviction of former state prosecutor Ronnie Goldy Jr., who was impeached by the House last month for allegedly soliciting nude photos from a defendant in exchange for court favors.
The impeachment hearings of the committee on March 21-22 will be the first in the Senate chamber in 135 years, when state Treasurer “Honest Dick” Tate was convicted in 1888 for fleeing the country with nearly $200,000 of state funds, never to be found.
Goldy was impeached in the House by a 97-0 vote in February, despite announcing the previous day that he would resign from his position at the end of that month.
Under the articles of impeachment, though he is no longer in office, Goldy would also be prohibited from holding any future office in Kentucky if he is convicted by the Senate.
More:Despite resignation, Kentucky House votes to impeach state prosecutor Ronnie Goldy
The former commonwealth's attorney for the 21st Judicial Circuit — comprised of Bath, Menifee, Montgomery and Rowan counties — Goldy has been embroiled in scandal since July, when The Courier Journal first reported on hundreds of Facebook messages he exchanged with a defendant, allegedly exchanging favors in court for nude images of her.
Following the allegations, the Kentucky Commonwealth's Attorneys' Association removed Goldy from the organization and the Kentucky Supreme Court suspended him from practicing law, though they could not remove him from office — an action that could only be taken by the Kentucky General Assembly through impeachment.
The Senate impeachment committee will meet during the veto period of the current legislative session — when the legislators break for 10 days, before returning to Frankfort March 29 for the final two days of the session.
More:Kentucky prosecutor promised to help defendant if she sent him nude images, messages show
The members of the Senate committee are:
Sen. Brandon Storm, R-London
Sen. Lindsey Tichenor, R-Smithfield
Sen. Gex Williams, R-Verona
Sen. Jason Howell, R-Murray
Sen. Michael Nemes, R-Shepherdsville
Sen. Cassie Chambers Armstrong, D-Louisville
Sen. Reginald Thomas, D-Lexington
Following the presentation of evidence against Goldy, the former prosecutor will have the opportunity to present the committee with his defense.
Following the hearing, the Senate committee will prepare recommendations and present them to the full Senate, after which the full body may either vote to accept or reject the recommendations — or proceed to a full trial on the floor of the chamber. If the Senate decides to go to a full trial on the floor, Republican Senate President Robert Stivers said it would likely extend past the end of the 2023 regular session, which is expected to adjourn sine die on the evening of March 30.
More:House committee advances articles of impeachment against Kentucky prosecutor Ronnie Goldy
Under the Kentucky Constitution, a conviction for an impeached official requires the vote of at least two-thirds of the senators present.
Before his resignation, Goldy denied the allegations in a response to the committee and disputed The Courier Journal's original reporting, saying he never asked for any nude images or video and "the words nude, naked or any other phrase of that nature" were not used in the messages.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Senate impeachment committee formed for Kentucky prosecutor Goldy
