For those of you playing catch up on this story, check out Nickolas' blog bluegrassreport.org or the pol watchers blog on the Lexington Herald-Leader's web page.
But in essence, the state revenue department sought an indictment against Nickolas for failing to pay three years worth of state taxes. The Franklin Co. grand jury returned that indictment on wednesday, about three weeks after Nickolas had paid his back taxes to the state. Nickolas screwed up but it also appears that the revenue cabinet didn't do its homework before going to the grand jury OR someone in the Fletcher administration was out to get their internet nemesis, Nickolas.
While Fletcher told me he had no idea that the revenue department was seeking charges, he did say that former Finance Secretary and running mate Robbie Rudolph was probably aware of the situation. When asked if there was retribution involved, Fletcher said he had no reason to believe that was the case. The governor says it's up to Franklin Co. Commonwealth's Attorney Larry Cleveland to decide what to do now with the criminal charges against Nickolas.