That is what it sounds like to me. Hopefully Kentucky Freepers will keep us posted on what is really going on.
That's exactly what he's being accused of. In KY, it's illegal to not hire someone for a government position because of their political affiliation. They've been going after Fletcher's administration for at least a year now.
For the record, everyone I know here in Northern Kentucky thinks it's a bullshit charge.
Fletcher is R, AG is D. Someone, I forget who gets fired from his position and files a complaint saying it was because he was a Democrat. AG investigates and then starts Grand Jury because he thinks it's bigger than one guy. Gov Fletcher pardons anyone the GJ my indict (except himself). This doesn't stop AG from indicting people though (even though they were already pardoned).
The "merit" thing is like the civil servant positions with the feds that can't be fired with the changing of partisans (like Mary McCarthy). The conspiracy is that Gov Fletcher was working to get Republicans hired/Dems fired. And to top it off, he/they were sloppy about it leaving email trails.
I don't disagree with what he did. Hell if I was a politician I'd fire every Democrat that looked at me cross-eyed, but in KY I suppose it's against the law (probably because some Dem already tried it before. LOL)
First Republican Governer in 2 generations.
Attny General is Democrat.
Launched an investigation at a press conference after 1 complaint.
Previous governor was a Clinton klone that hired by b/j's.