County commission and state legislature
Grossberg began his political career in Jefferson County,Kentucky,where he served on the County Commission from 2015 to 2023, [4] working on infrastructure improvements,affordable housing,public education,and community healthcare access. [5]
Since Grossberg has held the position of Kentucky State Representative in 2023,he has been involved in a variety of efforts focus on public safety,civil rights,and healthcare. In 2023,he co-sponsored a bill with Senator Gerald Neal to establish a hate crime law in Kentucky. The proposed legislation aimed to extend prison sentences for crimes motivated by factors such as race,religion,sexual orientation,or gender identity. [6]
In 2024,Grossberg,along with many others,supported legislation in to protect IVF services in Kentucky. The bills that he supported aimed to shield healthcare providers from criminal liability related to IVF procedures,ensuring continued access to reproductive services. [7]
Grossberg also played a role in the formation of Kentucky's antisemitism task force,which focuses on proactive measures to prevent hateful acts. The task force emphasizes education at K-12 and collegiate levels about Jewish identity and related issues. [8]
In 2025,Grossberg introduced House Bill 258,proposing the installation of cameras at approximately 9,000 Jefferson County Public Schools bus stops. This initiative was motivated by incidents of assault on immigrant students at bus stops,aiming to enhance student safety through surveillance. [9]
Ethics investigation and allegations
In 2024 and 2025,Daniel Grossberg became the subject of an ethics investigation by the Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission (KLEC). This investigation originated from complaints filed in August 2024 by former state House Democratic leaders Cherlynn Stevenson,Derrick Graham,and Rachel Roberts. [10]
Allegations
On July 30,2024,the Lexington Herald-Leader published a story regarding allegations of sexual harassment against Grossberg. According to four independent sources,three of whom were alleged female victims,the Legislative Research Commission had begun an investigation into Grossberg earlier that summer. According to the alleged victims,he had often texted each of them late in the evening with "weird" and "creepy" messages. Grossberg denied the allegations then,and has continued to deny them throughout the investigations. [11] [12]
On August 20,the Herald-Leader published another article in which three more women came forward with new allegations against Grossberg. Identified in the article as Woman A,B,and C,each stated that Grossberg had either messaged them or spoken to them in an inappropriate and sexually charged manner. [13] The next day,Governor Andy Beshear,Lieutenant Governor Jacqueline Coleman,the Louisville Democratic Party,and others spoke out against Grossberg's alleged conduct. [14] On August 29,Beshear made a more forceful statement and said,"I hope Rep. Grossberg is giving serious thought and having discussions with family members about whether a public office is the best or most appropriate place for him to be at this time." [15] The same day,the Louisville Democratic Party barred Grossberg from attending any party events until after the conclusion of the LRC's investigation. [16]
Commission findings
On July 8,2025,following nearly a year of inquiry,the Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission voted to find probable cause that Grossberg violated the state ethics code in 3 of 42 complaints:
- "Conduct related to intimidating statements or actions towards a private business"
- "Attempts to obtain contributions in exchange for possible state catering business or private company"
- "Conduct relating to his interactions with an individual at the Capitol Annex,before,during,and after a committee meeting in July 2023 and in his office at the annex involving inappropriate treatment of that person"
At this time,a public adjudicatory hearing will be scheduled. The commission also extended Grossberg and his attorneys the option to pursue a settlement. [10]
Allegations dismissed
The majority of allegations made against Grossberg were dismissed. Claims such as that he sent women "weird" or "creepy" messages,and that he acted improperly in assisting a House Democratic colleague who had reported harassment,were dropped. [10]
Additional allegations in the initial complaint included accusations of using "public office to obtain private benefit",including an "improper" car purchase. Another claim involved Grossberg sending a letter to Jefferson County Public Schools students who went on an overseas trip he chaperoned,sponsored by his wife,offering assistance with "college admission,scholarships,loans or any other government benefit" and stating that he would "even help you out if you ever get in trouble." A JCPS investigation into the trip found there was "an insufficient amount of evidence" to substantiate these claims. [10]
Grossberg was also accused of telling a colleague that he "could stop the person from making the harassing communications" insinuating that he had some control over the sender or the harassing correspondence. Other claims regarding alleged inappropriate conduct with lobbyists,advocates,and staff were also dismissed. [10]
A second ethics complaint,filed in November 2024,detailed additional alleged behavior that the complainant said "constituted as sexual harassment" and made them feel "wildly uncomfortable." These allegations were not included in the commission's probable cause findings. [10]
Proposed settlement
In June 2025,the commission offered Grossberg an agreed order to resolve the matter. Under the proposed settlement,the commission state that "probable cause may exist to believe" Grossberg violated state law in two instances. Once during a meeting with a "volunteer issue advocate" in his legislative office,and by sending private social media requests to a legislative employee. All other alleged violations would have been dismissed if Grossberg agreed to:
- Pay a $4,000 fine
- Receive a public reprimand from the commission
- Waive his right to bring civil action against the commission or individuals involved in the investigation
Grossberg declined to signed the proposed settlement.
Response
Grossberg has consistently maintained his innocence throughout the investigation and has declined to resign from office,despite calls for his resignation from various sources. [10] Grossberg did release a public statement on July 11,2025,to his social media stating the following regarding the commission's findings:
"After almost a year of investigations,the Ethics Commission cleared me of 39 bogus allegations this week. I am confident they will dismiss the remaining three allegations in a fair hearing with sworn witnesses under penalty of perjury. Despite political smears and unproven sensationalism by the Lexington paper the commission did not charge that there was probable cause on any sexual harassment. The commission found no sexual harassment took place..." [17]
