One week before the general election, and the Courier-Journal drops a bomb-shell which makes Aqua-Buddha pale in significance. On Saturday, investigative reporter R. G. Dunlop revealed an ongoing series of investigations concerning possible drug use or trafficking on the part of prosecutor Matthew C. Conway, brother of Jack Conway, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senator from Kentucky.
According to Dunlap, the local narcs have been dogging Matt Conway for the past two years; during which time he has been employed variously as Assistant Jefferson County Attorney and Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney. His brother Jack, of course, is Kentucky’s Attorney General. A decision was made back in August—by Jefferson County Attorney Michael O’Connell—not to prosecute Matt Conway. O’Connell himself is running for reelection in November, and is a supporter of Matt Conway’s brother, Jack, who will also be on the ballot in the race to find a replacement for Kentucky’s retiring senator, Republican Jim Bunning.
Neither of the Conway brothers have been officially charged with any criminal behavior, but at least three of the narcotics detectives who were involved in the Matt Conway investigation are themselves now the subjects of internal LMPD investigations for possible “policy violations.” Two of the narcs have been placed in administrative jobs pending the outcome of these inquiries.
The whole farrago is pregnant with questions which must be in the minds of Kentucky voters:
1. What was the nature of the evidence known to the narcs that prompted the investigation of Matt Conway?
2. Was any political pressure used to pull the detectives away from investigating the brother of Kentucky’s Attorney General?
3. When and how did LMPD Chief Robert White involve himself in the investigation?
4. When Matt Conway resigned from the Jefferson County attorney’s office in 2008, what was the status of the criminal investigation into his alleged drug involvement, and what did Jefferson County Mike O’Connell know about it.
5. What did Commonwealth’s Attorney David Stengel know, and when did he know it?
6. Was the meeting at Jack Conway’s house, where he brought in high-powered criminal defense attorney Bart Adams, the only involvement by the Attorney General in this matter?
7. It seems incredible that O’Connell, Stengel, and White could be involved in an elaborate cover-up to protect a drug dealer. Shouldn’t the Conways come forward and shed some light on this affair, thereby dispelling any imputation of misconduct on the part of innocent law enforcement officials?
8. How long has reporter Dunlap been working on this story, and did the timing of its publication have anything to due with the upcoming election?
LMPD Chief White is certainly not the brightest bulb on the marquee of life, but it is inconceivable that he would knowingly participate in a criminal cover-up and political retribution against fellow police officers. His refusal to discuss this matter with the C-J’s investigative reporter should not be seen to imply that he is hiding anything. As a choice between a fool and a knave, “them that knows” Bob White would guess the former.
Stengel and O’Connell have spotless reputations, and the mere suggestion that they could be involved in a smarmy political deal beggars the imagination. A public discussion by the Conways of the facts of this strange affair would go a long way to erase any shadow of doubt lingering against Jefferson County’s top law enforcement officials.
Rumors about the Conway boys and their extracurricular activities have been circulating around the courthouse for ages, with most observers willing to give them the same degree of credence as the scurrilous and unsubstantiated tales of Mayor Abramson’s nocturnal perambulations. And, unless and until some hard evidence surfaces implicating the Conways in some criminal behavior, reasonable people should give them the benefit of the doubt.
That having been said, it would certainly behoove Matt and Jack to man-up with a public discussion of the facts, and a declaration of their innocence. Criminal suspects have the right to remain silent. Politicians do not.
Read more: R.G. Dunlop’s Courier-Journal article
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Comments
Why is the liberal media in Kentucky burying an explosive breaking story related to Jack Conway and his alleged involvement in interfering with a criminal investigation of his brother’s possible involvement as a drug dealer and/or drug user?
When is it ever a good idea for an acting Attorney General to contact and intimidate detectives investigating his brother?
What does it say about an Attorney General when two police officers whom his office supervises tip off his own brother about a confidential criminal investigation of him, and tip him off days in advance that his house is going to be searched?
When is it ever appropriate for an Attorney General to ignore all appearances of conflict of interest and opportunities for corruption by meeting alone and in secret in his own home with the target of a criminal investigation and the target’s attorney, when such target is his own brother?
When is it ever appropriate for an Attorney General to accept campaign contributions for his political race for higher office from public police investigators who were investigating whether or not his brother was involved in criminal acts?
When is Mr. Conway going to return such campaign contributions?
Why does it appear that there are so many drug dealers, drug users, and corrupt police detectives associated with Jack Conway?
Why has Jack Conway refused to answer these questions to the people of Kentucky?
Why are there so many questions about Jack Conway?
When is it ever appropriate for an acting Attorney General to ignore conflict of interest considerations and repeatedly contact detectives in the middle of a criminal investigation of his brother to “inquire” about such investigation?
Man-up from Conway??? Hell, he can't even come out and give specifics on his issue positions!
I don't think the CJ was trying to bury the story, if they had been, it would have been well and truly buried and NEVER seen the light of print. I suspect it is just the opposite, it took them this long to actually tease out enough information to print - after all, it isn't like all the people involved are lining up to give Dunlap the scoop, just the opposite, for every shovel he dug, someone was piling two more shovelsful trying to cover it back up!
I will take issue with one point, his office doesn't supervise LMPD officers. There is a general chain leading back, but it isn't what I would call supervision. There is a far closer tie between Conway and KSP, although KSP does seem to be able to at least try to be apolitical in these matters.
From all the way over in here North Carolina.......you can smell it. Somethng stinks in Louisville. Phew! Sounds as if the Conway boys were up to no good. If indeed Jack Conway alerted his brother to a drug raid.......isn't that aiding and abetting?
I think if I were voting in that area I would vote Conway out and give Paul a chance. If you don't like his performance.......vote him out in 2012. Why keep someone like Conway that has had a shadow and questions hanging over him for so many years.
Kentucky, you have an opportunity for a fresh start. I suggest you give Paul a try.
This is a Conway Coverup.
http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20101023/NEWS01/310230027/1008/NE...
Guess who just lost the election??
If this guy Conway wins we are in for more corruption in Washington, and at this point I think we have all that we need...our government is so out of control and many people dont want to look at the facts and realize how big our mess in America truly is. If people dont wake up and make out voices heard we will lose what we call Freedom here in the US.
TV news is all propaganda.
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