Cockfighting
Attended Cockfighting Rally, Claimed it was a States’ Rights Rally. “U.S. Republican Senate
candidate Matt Bevin's itinerary listed a Saturday's morning event at The Arena in Corbin as a ‘states
rights rally,’ but event organizers say the sole purpose was to build support to legalize cockfighting in
Kentucky… After attending the 66th Annual Lincoln Day Banquet later in the evening, Bevin said he did
not realize the event had anything to do with cockfighting.” [News Journal, 4/02/14]
Later Revealed that Bevin was Asked Directly About Cockfighting at Rally. “When he was finished,
he was asked a direct question. ‘Will you vote to support the effort to legalize gamecock fighting in the
state of Kentucky?’ asked Devereaux. ‘I support the people of Kentucky exercising their right, because it
is our right to decide what it is that we want to do, and not the federal government's. Criminalizing
behavior, if it's part of the heritage of this state, is in my opinion a bad idea. A bad idea. I will not support
it,’ said Bevin, which was met with rousing applause from the crowd.” [WAVE3, 4/24/14]
Taxes
Bevin: “I Have No Tax Delinquency Problem Nor Have I Ever.” [Campaign Announcement, 7/23/13]
WAVE: Bevin Paid Taxes Late on Maine and Louisiana Properties at Least 10 Times. “Republican
candidate for Kentucky governor Matt Bevin has been late to pay property taxes on land he owns in other
states at least 10 times since 2002, documents indicate. Local officials in Greenwood, Maine and
Leesville, Louisiana provided the documents at the request of WAVE 3 News. Combined, they show
Bevin paid more than $1,100 in interest and penalties to settle property tax bills. Bevin disputed the
numbers but did not provide an explanation for what the Maine and Louisiana officials provided.”
[WAVE3, 6/18/15]
Bevin Brothers Manufacturing Faced Multiple Liens, was Number 1 Tax Delinquent in Connecticut
Town. “But starting in 2009, East Hampton hit Bevin Bros. with a series of tax liens — eight from the
city and one from the federal Internal Revenue Service — for failing to pay more than six figures in taxes,
according to public documents. A May 2011 article in the Connecticut-based Middletown Press dubbed
the company as the No. 1 tax delinquent firm in East Hampton, owing $116,684 in back taxes.” [Politico,
7/24/13]
Pathological Liar
McConnell Campaign: Bevin a “Pathological Liar.” “The only thing worse than getting caught
somewhere you shouldn't be is getting caught lying about it. That's what happened to Kentucky Senate
candidate Matt Bevin on Thursday night when a local news station played video of the Tea Party
Republican at a pro-cockfighting rally saying he would 'not support' future efforts to criminalize the
blood-sport…McConnell's campaign called Bevin a 'pathological liar' in light of Thursday's revelation.”
[Daily Mail, 4/25/14]
McConnell Campaign: Bevin “Pathologically Lied to Us About Absolutely Everything.” “Matt
Bevin’s cockfighting episode will go down in history as one of the most disqualifying moments in
Kentucky political history. 20 years from now- we will all remember the time when the east coast conman thought so little of Kentuckians that he pathologically lied to us about absolutely everything until an
undercover camera caught him red-handed at a cockfighting rally.” [Eyewitness News, 4/25/14]