Beshear: Retirement board violated Open Meetings Law

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) – Attorney General Andy Beshear says the Kentucky Retirement Systems board has violated the state Open Meetings Law.

Republican Gov. Matt Bevin removed Thomas Elliot, the board’s chairman, from the board in April. But Elliott refused to leave. Last month, Bevin’s office sent state troopers to a board meeting and threatened to arrest Elliott if he participated.

Beshear said the board, through its actions and the actions of other state agencies, violated the Open Meetings Law because the presence of state troopers before and during the meeting created an atmosphere that chilled or confined the public’s right to freely attend the meeting.

Bevin spokeswoman Amanda Stamper said Beshear’s ruling was politically motivated. She said the state troopers were present to prevent disruption in light of Elliott’s refusal to obey Bevin’s order.

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.