Bevin administration sues to keep sexual harassment records secret

The administration of Gov. Matt Bevin has sued the Courier Journal in an effort to conceal details of sexual harassment allegations by the state's former top social services official, including the identity of the state employee she accused of harassment.

The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in Franklin Circuit Court, comes despite a recent court finding in two different cases that the state must disclose such information.

Arguing disclosure of such details would be "an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy," lawyers for the Cabinet for Health and Family Services are asking Franklin Circuit Phillip Shepherd to reverse a decision by Attorney General Andy Beshear that the state must disclose the records.

The lawsuit argues the cabinet is not obligated to release details of alleged harassment and discrimination by Adria Johnson, who resigned in June as commissioner of the Department for Community Based Services, because an internal investigation did not substantiate her complaint.

Read more: https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/2018/10/24/bevin-administration-sues-courier-journal-over-sexual-harassment-allegations-records/1752667002/