Republican mega-donor urged ex-Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin to pardon convicted killer

By Joe Sonka and Phillip M. Bailey


LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A prominent Kentucky banker who is one of the state’s largest Republican donors urged former Gov. Matt Bevin to pardon convicted killer Patrick Baker months before the outgoing governor issued a controversial last-minute order freeing the man.

Terry Forcht, founder of Corbin-based Forcht Bank, has given more than $1 million to Republican candidates, committees and super PACs over the past decade, state and federal campaign records show.

Forcht hosted a re-election fundraiser for Bevin on March 23 at his home near London, Kentucky, where he raised $33,150. Forcht also gave $100,000 to the Matt Bevin-Jenean Hampton Inaugural Committee in 2015.

Public records reviewed Tuesday by The Courier Journal show the GOP mega-donor lobbied Bevin, a Republican, on behalf of Baker twice: In an August 2018 letter and again in a June 4 note.

Read more: https://www.postcrescent.com/story/news/nation/2019/12/17/gop-mega-donor-terry-forcht-urged-bevin-pardon-convicted-killer/2680548001/
(Appleton Post-Crescent)