Former Republican Governor and Trump Ally Jailed for Two Months

Former Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin, a Republican and close ally of President Donald Trump, was arrested on Thursday for defying a court order in a family court and child support dispute. Bevin, who served as governor from 2015 to 2019, was taken into custody by the Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office and booked into Louisville Metro Corrections.

The arrest came after a bench warrant was issued in June, requiring him to spend 60 days in jail and pay a $500 fine for civil contempt. The warrant was filed by Jefferson County Family Court Judge Angela Johnson, who ordered Bevin to submit comprehensive financial records, including tax returns and bank statements. Bevin's ex-wife, Glenna Bevin, and their adopted son, Jonah, complied with the disclosure request, but Bevin repeatedly failed to provide the mandatory documentation.

Jonah Bevin, one of the four children Matt and his wife adopted from Ethiopia in 2012, expressed sadness rather than celebration upon his father's arrest, emphasizing that adoption is supposed to be forever. Jonah's attorneys stated that the arrest was not what he wanted, as his parents' actions made clear they had not felt love for him in a long time.

Bevin was previously held in contempt in May after missing a court hearing, which he claimed was due to a boulder crashing into his home in Maine. The judge ordered him to produce the financial records by June 5, and when Bevin's attorney requested additional time, the judge denied it and issued an arrest warrant. Johnson criticized Bevin for his continued failure to cooperate with the court, stating that she would not reward his behavior with a reduced sentence or alternative relief.

Bevin's arrest comes after he was a prominent conservative figure and vocal ally of Trump during his single term as governor.