by Joey Brown, Digital Content Manager –

William Landrum and Matt Bevin (Source: James Thomas/WAVE 3 News)

William Landrum and Matt Bevin (Source: James Thomas/WAVE 3 News)

FRANKFORT, KY (WAVE) – Gov. Matt Bevin announced on Tuesday that a preliminary investigation by his administration has uncovered “questionable activity” within the administration of his predecessor, Gov. Steve Beshear. Furthermore, Bevin said there is evidence that state employees were coerced into donating to the 2015 campaign of Beshear’s son Andy Beshear, who won the office of state attorney general.

The governor said Finance and Administration Cabinet Secretary William Landrum will conduct a thorough, in-depth investigation in conjunction with an attorney or law firm with experience investigating activities and contracts. Once selected, the firm will work closely with Landrum and his staff, including the cabinet’s new inspector general, whose appointment will be announced in the coming days, to make findings and issue a report, the governor’s office said.

“A thorough, independent investigation like this can expose and cast light upon prior unsavory – and perhaps illegal – practices, but can also provide the public a degree of confidence in a fair and transparent governance that was so glaringly absent in the past administration,” Bevin said during a Tuesday morning news conference at the state capitol.