Louisville Metro Councilman Anthony Piagentini will keep his seat on the council following a weekslong ethics trial.The council failed to reach a two-thirds majority vote on any of the eight counts Piagentini was facing.Piagentini was accused of using his position on Metro Council to secure a $40 million American Rescue Plan grant for his future employer.This led to an ethics complaint being filed against him, along with a trial to decide whether he would be removed from Metro Council.He was originally facing six ethics violations but later had perjury and fraud added before the removal trial began.Attorneys for the charging committee argued that Piagentini was working to get a job with the Louisville Healthcare CEO Council (CEOc) while advocating for the grant but only recused himself from the final vote without explanation. During closing arguments, charging committee attorney Kent Wicker said the evidence was clear, and it was up to the council to hold Piagentini accountable. “His response to these charges throughout the proceedings has been to play the victim, to blame others, and to deny the obvious,” Wicker said.Piagentini’s attorney, Mike Swansburg, argued there were holes in the charging committee’s evidence. He said Piagentini had merely been networking with the CEOc, and once that became a job offer, he immediately recused himself from anything dealing with the grant.”There is no proof in the record whatsoever that Councilman Piagentini solicited anything from the CEOc — period,” Swansburg said.Ultimately, the majority of the council sided with Piagentini’s attorneys.”I think there were some counts where the charging committee proved their case. I think there were others where there’s at least doubt in my mind,” said Metro Council President Markus Winkler. Minority Caucus Chair Kevin Kramer also pointed to a lack of evidence.”I looked at the evidence, and I didn’t see any evidence from anywhere that suggested that Councilman Anthony Piagentini operated outside the work group structure that we had established,” Kramer said.Both sides are now hopeful the council can move forward from this. “Some of us have been here a long time and have learned that it’s not personal,” Kramer said.”I’m sure it’s going to take some time to heal those relationships but I hope we’re able to work together and move on to the next issue and come together like we’ve always done,” Winkler added. Piagentini serves as the Metro Councilman for District 19. He plans to hold a press conference sometime Tuesday where he will share his thoughts on the trial and the verdict.
Louisville Metro Councilman Anthony Piagentini will keep his seat on the council following a weekslong ethics trial.
The council failed to reach a two-thirds majority vote on any of the eight counts Piagentini was facing.
Piagentini was accused of using his position on Metro Council to secure a $40 million American Rescue Plan grant for his future employer.
This led to an ethics complaint being filed against him, along with a trial to decide whether he would be removed from Metro Council.
He was originally facing six ethics violations but later had perjury and fraud added before the removal trial began.
Attorneys for the charging committee argued that Piagentini was working to get a job with the Louisville Healthcare CEO Council (CEOc) while advocating for the grant but only recused himself from the final vote without explanation.
During closing arguments, charging committee attorney Kent Wicker said the evidence was clear, and it was up to the council to hold Piagentini accountable.
“His response to these charges throughout the proceedings has been to play the victim, to blame others, and to deny the obvious,” Wicker said.
Piagentini’s attorney, Mike Swansburg, argued there were holes in the charging committee’s evidence. He said Piagentini had merely been networking with the CEOc, and once that became a job offer, he immediately recused himself from anything dealing with the grant.
“There is no proof in the record whatsoever that Councilman Piagentini solicited anything from the CEOc — period,” Swansburg said.
Ultimately, the majority of the council sided with Piagentini’s attorneys.
“I think there were some counts where the charging committee proved their case. I think there were others where there’s at least doubt in my mind,” said Metro Council President Markus Winkler.
Minority Caucus Chair Kevin Kramer also pointed to a lack of evidence.
“I looked at the evidence, and I didn’t see any evidence from anywhere that suggested that Councilman Anthony Piagentini operated outside the work group structure that we had established,” Kramer said.
Both sides are now hopeful the council can move forward from this.
“Some of us have been here a long time and have learned that it’s not personal,” Kramer said.
“I’m sure it’s going to take some time to heal those relationships but I hope we’re able to work together and move on to the next issue and come together like we’ve always done,” Winkler added.
Piagentini serves as the Metro Councilman for District 19.
He plans to hold a press conference sometime Tuesday where he will share his thoughts on the trial and the verdict.