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Former Kentucky Speaker Agrees to Settlement
By: Associated Press
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FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) – Kentucky’s former House speaker has agreed he violated state ethics laws when he signed a secret sexual harassment settlement last year with a woman who once worked for the House Republican Caucus.
Jeff Hoover agreed to admit the violation as part of a settlement agreement before the Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission. The agreement requires Hoover to pay a $1,000 fine and admit he violated the ethics code. The commission would not recommend he be censured or expelled from the House of Representatives.
The commission approved the settlement Tuesday morning after reviewing some evidence, including copies of text messages exchanged between Hoover and the woman.
A lawyer for the woman indicated she agreed that a settlement was appropriate.