Four state residents are calling for an ethics investigation of State Senator Eli Bebout saying that his support of the Abandoned Mine Lands bill improperly benefited a company that he partially owns.
The company called Nucor received AML funding as a result of the legislation, but the bill did not pay Bebout directly and for that reason the Senate rules committee allowed him to vote on the legislation. Senate Minority leader Chris Rothfuss is a member of the rules committee and said Bebout’s vote was proper.
“Am I specifically going to benefit from a vote or is a class of persons I belong to going to benefit from that vote. And that’s the delineation we use as a citizen’s legislature.”
Bebout noted that his company only gets funding if it makes a successful bid. He calls it a serious allegation.
“You know it’s personal and they’re attacking my credibility and my integrity and so it’s very serious. But I respect the process and I’m going to cooperate fully.”
Senate President Phil Nicholas will likely need to appoint a committee to determine if Bebout or others are guilty of any wrongdoing.