Kentucky: Leonard Lawson

October 22, 2009 - 04:55 pm

Danny Briscoe: Faux Democratic consultant?

The state and national media loves going to Democratic consultant Danny Briscoe for quotes.

But as Bob at Blue Bluegrass points out, is this guy really a Democrat? Or only in the sense of the "Democratic consultants" that Fox News brings on to bash Democrats?
Why is Briscoe continuing to be referred to as a Democratic political consultant? While it is true that over 20 years ago he ran Wallace Wilkinson’s campaign, things change.

This is just one of many examples where Republican Danny Briscoe is positively fawning in his praise and adoration of Mitch McConnell.

And in 2008, when McConnell faced the re-election fight of his life, if Danny Briscoe were a Democratic political consultant, he’d be tying McConnell to the 8 years of poisonous Bush policies, and would be supportive of McConnell’s Democratic opponent, right?

May 20, 2009 - 04:29 pm
NEWS FEED: Bluegrass Politics

State keeps paying Leonard Lawson’s companies

By John Cheves - jcheves@herald-leader.com Last September, a federal grand jury indicted road contractor Leonard Lawson for allegedly scheming to rig bids on contracts at the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet worth $130 million. Since that day, the cabinet has paid $68.3 million to seven road-building or asphalt companies in which Lawson or his family currently hold positions, according to data from the state treasurer and secretary of state's offices. Most of the companies share a headquarters on Atkinson Avenue in Lexington. Lawson's companies have dominated road building in Eastern Kentucky for decades as he acquired political clout through heavy campaign donations, friendships and private business deals with elected officials.

March 3, 2009 - 05:31 am
NEWS FEED: Bluegrass Politics

Judge delays highway bid-tampering trial

The federal trial of three men charged in a highway bid-tampering case has been delayed until June 23.

U.S. District Judge Danny Reeves postponed the trial of road contractor Leonard Lawson, former state transportation secretary Bill Nighbert and Lawson employee Brian Billings to allow defense attorneys more time to prepare their case. The trial had been scheduled for April 28.

March 2, 2009 - 03:18 am
NEWS FEED: Bluegrass Politics

Lawson trial moved to Covington, defense wants to delay April trial

FRANKFORT -- A federal judge has moved a much-anticipated trial involving the alleged tampering of more than $150 million in state road contracts to Covington.

Lawyers for road contractor Leonard Lawson, former transportation secretary Bill Nighbert and Lawson employee Brian Billings had argued that pre-trial publicity surrounding the case could prejudice a Frankfort jury pool.

Mon, 08/11/2008 - 12:36

Beshear pledges cooperation with road contract investigation

The office of Governor Steve Beshear (D-Lexington) released a statement today saying the current administration would cooperate with a federal investigation into potential illegalities in the state's transportation department during his predecessor's tenure.

Read More >
Mon, 08/11/2008 - 12:13

Federal investigation targets former Transportation Secretary and a major political contributor

Former Transportation Secretary Bill Nighbert and road contractor and major political contributor Leonard Lawson are the targets of a federal investigation, according to an affadavit obtained by the Louisville Courier-Journal revealling allegations that road construction estimates were illegally leaked to Lawson.