The Conways, drugs, cover-ups, and finger-pointing

[Sandra]

The Conways, drugs, cover-ups, and finger-pointing

Source:
Louisville City Hall Examiner
URL Source: http://www.examiner.com/city-hall-i ... -s-senatorial-election-the-con
Published: Oct 28, 2010
Author: Thomas McAdam

Just in time for Kentucky's senatorial election: The Conways, drugs, cover-ups, and finger-pointing

* October 23rd, 2010 7:00 pm ET

Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Matthew Conway, brother of Attorney General Jack Conway Photo: Com'th Atty. web site

One week before the general election, and the Courier-Journal drops a bomb-shell which makes Aqua-Buddha pale in significance. On Saturday,
investigative reporter R. G. Dunlop revealed an ongoing series of
investigations concerning possible drug use or trafficking on the part
of prosecutor Matthew C. Conway, brother of Jack Conway, the Democratic
candidate for U.S. Senator from Kentucky.

According to Dunlap, the local narcs have been dogging Matt Conway for the past two years; during which time he has been employed variously as Assistant Jefferson
County Attorney and Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney. His brother Jack,
of course, is Kentucky’s Attorney General. A decision was made back in
August—by Jefferson County Attorney Michael O’Connell—not to prosecute
Matt Conway. O’Connell himself is running for reelection in November,
and is a supporter of Matt Conway’s brother, Jack, who will also be on
the ballot in the race to find a replacement for Kentucky’s retiring
senator, Republican Jim Bunning.

Neither of the Conway brothers have been officially charged with any criminal behavior, but at least three of the narcotics detectives who were involved in the Matt Conway
investigation are themselves now the subjects of internal LMPD
investigations for possible “policy violations.” Two of the narcs have
been placed in administrative jobs pending the outcome of these
inquiries.

The whole farrago is pregnant with questions which must be in the minds of Kentucky voters:

1. What was the nature of the evidence known to the narcs that prompted the investigation of Matt Conway?

2. Was any political pressure used to pull the detectives away from investigating the brother of Kentucky’s Attorney General?

3. When and how did LMPD Chief Robert White involve himself in the investigation?

4. When Matt Conway resigned from the Jefferson County attorney’s office in 2008, what was the status of the criminal investigation into
his alleged drug involvement, and what did Jefferson County Mike
O’Connell know about it.

5. What did Commonwealth’s Attorney David Stengel know, and when did he know it?

6. Was the meeting at Jack Conway’s house, where he brought in high-powered criminal defense attorney Bart Adams, the only involvement
by the Attorney General in this matter?

7. It seems incredible that O’Connell, Stengel, and White could be involved in an elaborate cover-up to protect a drug dealer. Shouldn’t the Conways come
forward and shed some light on this affair, thereby dispelling any
imputation of misconduct on the part of innocent law enforcement
officials?

8. How long has reporter Dunlap been working on this story, and did the timing of its publication have anything to due with the upcoming election?

LMPD Chief White is certainly not the brightest bulb on the marquee of life, but it is inconceivable that he would knowingly participate in a criminal cover-up
and political retribution against fellow police officers. His refusal
to discuss this matter with the C-J’s investigative reporter should not
be seen to imply that he is hiding anything. As a choice between a fool
and a knave, “them that knows” Bob White would guess the former.

Stengel and O’Connell have spotless reputations, and the mere suggestion that they could be involved in a smarmy political deal
beggars the imagination. A public discussion by the Conways of the facts
of this strange affair would go a long way to erase any shadow of doubt
lingering against Jefferson County’s top law enforcement officials.

Rumors about the Conway boys and their extracurricular activities have been circulating around the courthouse for ages, with most observers
willing to give them the same degree of credence as the scurrilous and
unsubstantiated tales of Mayor Abramson’s nocturnal perambulations. And,
unless and until some hard evidence surfaces implicating the Conways in
some criminal behavior, reasonable people should give them the benefit
of the doubt.

That having been said, it would certainly behoove Matt and Jack to man-up with a public discussion of the facts, and a declaration of their innocence. Criminal suspects have the right to
remain silent. Politicians do not.

Jack Conway and his supporters are involved in a cover-up and an attempt to obstruct justice, but this does not seem to be on the corporate media’s
radar screen.

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