Louisville lawmaker pulled from committees over alleged inappropriate behavior

State Rep. Daniel Grossberg, a Louisville Democrat who's been accused of inappropriate behavior , has been pulled off his interim committee assignments, according to party officials in Frankfort.

In a statement Thursday, the House Democratic Caucus said Grossberg has been relieved of current committee responsibilities following "new information received from (Legislative Research Commission) officials."

"Many committees do not cast votes during the interim and Rep. Grossberg’s constituents will not be impacted by this decision," the statement reads.

Susan Klimchak, chief of staff for House Democrats, did not say what "new information" party leaders had received. Mike Wynn, a spokesperson for the LRC, the General Assembly's administrative and research branch, said the commission is "reviewing information on this matter as it becomes available and communicating with legislative leaders" but does not comment on possible investigations.

Anna Whites, an attorney representing Grossberg, confirmed the move, calling it an "unprecedented" reaction by the House Democrats.

"I have not, in 35 years, ever seen either party's House leaders say to an entire district of voters, 'I'm sorry, you are going to be unrepresented for an indefinite amount of time,'" she said Thursday. "I think we all know a lot of lawmaking happens during ... these interim committees and joint committees. It's the only real opportunity state agencies and businesses and the public have to make legislators aware of issues and concerns and topics for the upcoming session."

Whites said she still has not been made aware of an investigation by the LRC and said the decision to pull Grossberg from interim committees appeared to be "solely and completely" a party move.

Whites added Grossberg was contacted by the LRC several weeks ago about "being less demanding of staff," citing emails he'd sent to staffers late at night. He accepted coaching on the matter, she said.

While LRC officials have not publicly said the commission has opened an investigation, the Lexington Herald-Leader has said the LRC is looking into allegations of inappropriate conduct with women who work for nonprofit advocacy agencies and lobbying firms, citing several unnamed sources.

Following the reports, the state's House Democratic caucus temporarily suspended Grossberg from its membership. The Kentucky Young Democrats, a "youth-led political organization committed to electing Democratic candidates," also publicly called on the legislator to resign , citing several members who had "come to us with their own stories detailing Rep. Grossberg's inappropriate behavior towards them."

Grossberg previously told The Courier Journal he behaved appropriately, though state party chairman Colmon Elridge has called the allegations "unsettling."

Grossberg has "absolutely" no plans to resign, his attorney said.

"Obviously he has apologized and will apologize again for making anyone feel uncomfortable if, in fact, he has, but it has been his literal lifelong goal — as long as I've known him, more than a decade, his goal has been to be a state rep," Whites said."

The General Assembly is not currently in session in Frankfort, but interim committees have been meeting this summer to prepare for the 2025 session, set to begin Jan. 7.

Grossberg's bio on the LRC website currently lists no interim committee assignments. Klimchak said the 45-year-old married legislator, who won his Democratic primary in May by 50 votes and is running unopposed for a second term in November, had been a member of four interim joint committees:

• Natural Resources & Energy;
• Veterans, Military Affairs & Public Protection;
• Licensing, Occupations, & Administrative Regulations;
• And Tourism, Small Business, and Information Technology.

House District 30, which Grossberg represents, includes portions of Louisville just south of Interstate 264 and east of Interstate 65.

Whites said Grossberg plans "to be a passional, left-leaning liberal and a strong advocate for the Jewish faith and minority communities until he dies."

"I think House Democratic leadership is still continuing to discriminate against him and impede his ability to do his job. I am not sure why," Whites said. "No one has provided me with copies or information of anything that would support their actions."

This story may be updated.

Reporter Stephanie Kuzydym contributed. Reach Lucas Aulbach at laulbach@courier-journal.com.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville lawmaker pulled from committees over alleged inappropriate behavior