Posted on 09/20/2002 4:00:17 PM PDT by Jalapeno
FRANKFORT, Ky.(AP) — Gov. Paul Patton on Friday tearfully admitted to having an "inappropriate personal relationship" with a woman who is suing him for sexual harassment. He denied he used his influence to assist or damage her business, a nursing home, as she has alleged.
"I have now apologized to the people of Kentucky and asked for your forgiveness," the married governor said. "I do believe that now I am on the right path.
"It's not easy for me to discuss private failures in a public forum but I do so because I want to be honest with the people of Kentucky and try to earn their trust and respect again."
Patton, whose wife Judi, stood by his side at a news conference Wednesday, canceled his public appearances Friday publicly acknowledging the relationship.
Patton, 65, a Democrat and chairman of the National Governors Association, called political associates and supporters earlier Friday to alert them to his intentions, according to three people who spoke with the AP on the condition of anonymity.
One of the sources said Patton was distraught and expressed remorse for betraying his friends and family.
Conner said she met Patton for sex numerous times in 1997 through 1999. She said Patton continued to call her and said she broke off the relationship in October 2001 and found state regulators at her nursing home in Clinton two months later.
Early in the week, Patton told WHAS-TV of Louisville that he did not have sexual relations with Conner.
The Courier-Journal of Louisville reported Friday that hundreds of calls had been made from the governor's office to Conner's telephones at her home and businesses.
On Wednesday, Patton was sued by Conner, alleging that he provided extraordinary state assistance to her and her business because of a sexual relationship. The lawsuit also alleged that when Conner broke off the relationship, Patton turned state regulators loose on her nursing home.
Patton acknowledged knowing Conner and her former husband, Seth Conner, during a news conference this week, but denied any improper conduct.
Conner's lawsuit alleges that she had a relationship with Patton beginning in the fall of 1997 and ending two years later. During that time, Conner alleged Patton made "lewd" calls to her and that he made harassing calls after she ended the relationship.
The phone records show 440 calls from phones in the governor's offices to Conner's numbers.
A spokesman for Patton noted that Conner was also the county contact person for the governor's office and such people are in regular contact.
Birchtree Healthcare has filed for bankruptcy and is the subject of a foreclosure suit. The Cabinet for Health Services pulled Medicare and Medicaid payments from the nursing home in July.
Conner, 40, has said Patton's retribution has ruined her personally and financially. She is a Patton appointee to the state lottery board.
"If the governor is admitting this, I'm happy about that," Conner told WHAS-TV of Louisville on Friday. "But that doesn't make things right. He's used his position to hurt me, my business and the residents" of the nursing home.
Wasn't there a scandal brewing about this guy and campaign money spent on his wife when they were 'dating'? Lost track of what happened, so I assume it just disappeared into the mist.
Of course - I think now - one of his 14 siblings IS is homeschooling his children.
Terry Meiners is getting to me these past few years - I just can't stand to listen to him anymore.
Also - last night on WAVE 3 news - there was an exclusive interview with someone who worked in KY state government - and more or less said that he was pressured to do some "jobs, etc." - that came from Patton's office.
Stay Tuned.
Thankfully - we live just across the river from Louisville - over in southern IN - so he's not my governor.
Yes, I noticed.....but didn't realize this until you pointed it how....you are correct, of course; for any Republican who did this, "Republican" would be the headline, then the name. Besides whan Ann Coulter would say in Slander how about the other, Bias?
He starts an affair with a low level state employee … has her promoted several times until she is his chief-of-staff or something, making big bucks … knocks her up … divorces his wife weeks before their 25th wedding anniversary (manages to keep the messy proceedings quiet) … marries his honey … and sets up a web site to collect baby shower gifts from those seeking political favors – all without a wimper from the media. Gov Patton … put on your dunce cap and stand in the corner.
Good old Mike Weaver was a significant part of that action too.
Now he's got the inside track for Dem Presidential nominee in 2004.
Actually, the Washington Post did run one story on the relationship between Glenspending and his then-staffer, months before he got his divorce. It turned out the Post had known about his relationship with the staffer months before they ran the story. But it was something that they ran at least that one story. I wonder why the Washington Times didn't get on his case.
The right path is the one which leads away from the public trust which he abused. I must have missed the part wherein he said he would resign.
Bunning is no pushover.
As far as Ernie Fletcher, I'll reserve judgment, because we have several Republicans running for office who could/would make excellent candidates.
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