Update: Kentucky's Senate Democratic Caucus is asking former Gov. Julian Carroll to resign his state Senate seat after a TV report alleged he groped a man in 2005. In a statement Sunday, the caucus asked the Frankfort lawmaker to resign immediately and removed him as minority whip.
Spectrum News of Louisville reported Saturday the alleged incident happened at the man's home. Carroll, who denied the allegations, didn't immediately respond to a request for comment by The Associated Press.
After the alleged incident, the man went to state police and played a taped conversation of the meeting. No charges were filed.
There's no evidence of groping on the tape, which shows the man refusing Carroll's sexual proposition and Carroll then backing down.
Carroll was Kentucky's governor from 1974 to 1979.
Earlier:
A spokesman for the Kentucky Democratic Party says they are “terribly concerned” following a TV report that former Democratic governor and current state Sen. Julian Carroll propositioned and allegedly groped a then-30-year-old man in 2005.
Brad Bowman says “We are terribly concerned by the events described in the Pure Politics piece concerning Sen. Carroll. While we acknowledge and greatly appreciate Sen. Carroll’s life-long career of public service, we cannot overlook the severity of these allegations and take them seriously.”
The twenty-plus minute report, which first aired Saturday evening includes an audio recording of an incident from 12 years ago in which Carroll is allegedly heard telling Jason Geis he will help him get into art school, but instead graphically propositions him for sex.
The feature also includes a recent face to face encounter with Pure Politics editor Nick Storm in which Carroll vehemently denies the allegations.
Tres Watson, a spokesman for the Kentucky Republican Party also released a statement describing the report as “very troubling,” while calling for a full investigation into whether Carroll and other party officials attempted to cover up the incident.