Kentucky businessman and former state representative Jerry Lundergan reportedly left $20,000 in cash and a $25,000 check in a political consultant’s couch.
According to the Lexington Herald Leader, the money was intended as reimbursement for work the consultant did for Lundergan’s daughter, Alison Lundergan Grimes, who sought reelection in 2015 to become Kentucky secretary of state.
Consultant Jonathan Hurst testified that Lundergan earmarked the money for him in exchange for conducting mailings for Lundergan’s daughter. Lundergan allegedly wrote “Boy Scouts” in the memo line to describe the check’s intent.
Hurst’s testimony inferred that Lundergan made an illegal payment to assist Grimes’ campaign. The consultant claimed the check and cash were stuffed in a bag in the couch at Hurst’s home in Louisville in October 2015.
Hurst also said he did not cash the check or spend any of the money left by Lundergan. He told the businessman he could only perform campaign mailings if Grimes’ campaign paid for the work.
FBI agents searched Hurst’s home in January 2016 and found the cash and check stored there. The raid was part of an investigation to determine if Lundergan made illegal contributions to Grimes’ 2014 U.S. Senate campaign. Grimes, who is a Democrat, challenged Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell during that race.
Lundergan and a political consultant named Dale Emmons were indicted by a federal grand jury on charges including a plan to give banned corporate campaign donations to Grimes’ Senate campaign.
Both men are on trial in federal court in Frankfort, where Hurst testified.
Lundergan was a fixture in Democratic circles for decades, having served as party chairman in addition to being a state representative. He was also an early supporter of former President Bill Clinton’s 1992 bid for the White House. His political aspirations were tarnished after a 1989 felony conviction connected to a no-bid state contract.
