Roberts is considering a possible run for Northup's old 3rd District congressional seat in 2008. He says there was no "quid pro quo" with Northup, no deal that he'd publicly endorse her campaign for governor if she'd promise to endorse his potential candidacy next year.

Roberts says Fletcher lost his trust when he cut the deal with Greg Stumbo to avoid a trial on the criminal charges against him. Roberts says he wanted to see justice done and the truth revealed and the governor "didn't feel that way". But the former federal prosecutor still says the merit investigation was mishandled and should have been a civil matter (Personnel Board) instead of a criminal one. He also accepted an appointment to the U.K. Board of Trustees from Fletcher long after he says he lost faith in the governor..
Roberts is viewed by members of the Frankfort press corps as an honest, straight up guy, but he had a tough time reconciling his feelings with his actions at today's news conference.

Roberts says no one in the Fletcher administration pressured him or asked him to do anything illegal when he was state personnel secretary.

Northup bashed Fletcher and raised legitimate questions about why he "took the fifth" before the special grand jury that investigated his hiring practices. But Roberts also appeared before the grand jury, taking the fifth as well. He says he never did anything wrong and was never part of the Fletcher administration's abuse of the state merit system.

Fletcher refuses to get drawn into a public war of words with Northup. While his closest allies are apparently doing everything they can behind the scenes to torpedo Northup's campaign, Fletcher won't be baited into bashing Northup. In response to questions today, he told reporters he wouldn't get involved in "the politics of destruction" and said "I'm not going to comment on my opponent".