Kentucky Governor Sued Over Firing of Lieutenant Governor’s Staff

Enmity between Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin and Lt. Gov. Jenean Hampton spilled into state court as the state’s top official was sued by his deputy for canning her staffers without her consent.

The Aug. 15 complaint alleges that Bevin’s firing of Hampton’s chief of staff and deputy chief was unlawful because only her office has final authority over personnel decisions for her team.

The lawsuit is a strike against the Republican governor’s ability to fire state employees who might not be fully supporting his policies. Bevin replaced Hampton (R) with another running mate for the 2019 governor’s race, and Hampton ...