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The Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting first uncovered the claims of veteran Capitol staffers who said longtime State Rep. John Arnold had repeatedly sexually harassed them. Arnold resigned.

Kentucky Legislative Research Commission Director Bobby Sherman Resigns

Robert Sherman
Robert Sherman

The director of the Kentucky Legislative Research Commission has resigned.

In a letter sent Friday afternoon to House Speaker Greg Stumbo and Senate President Robert Stivers, LRC director Bobby Sherman announced his resignation following the conclusion of an internal probe into allegations that former state Rep. John Arnold, a Democrat from Sturgis, sexually harassed Statehouse employees.

Sherman said the LRC recently concluded the investigation into those allegations, and that the complaints were addressed "promptly" and "protective measures implemented."

"The goal was to fully protect two of our fine staff from improper conduct and retaliation of any sort. I believe that goal was achieved," Sherman said. "Now that this phase of the examination is concluded, I believe that a logical time for my departure has arrived."

Sherman has been with the LRC since 1978 and has served as the nonpartisan agency's director for 14 years. One of the three LRC employees who filed complaints against Arnold later said she thought Sherman had failed them and needed to resign.

In 2008, Sherman received a 47-percent pay raise as state lawmakers were cutting education and social services.

Observers roundly criticized the decision by legislative leaders, which bumped Sherman's salary from $132,000 to $195,000 annually.

Sherman told staff LRC Deputy Director Robert Jenkins will serve as acting administrator of the agency until a new director is selected.

Sherman didn't immediately return a call seeking comment Friday afternoon.

In his e-mail to LRC staff yesterday afternoon, Sherman called them "the best state employees in the Commonwealth and finest legislative staff in the nation."

He said that after 31 years with the LRC, "it's time to hang it up," but he did not elaborate on his reasons for retiring.

Arnold resigned last week.