Clinton Wesley Morgan (born July 23, 1950) is an American businessman and politician from the state of Kentucky. A member of the Republican Party, Morgan is a former member of the Kentucky House of Representatives for the 81st district.
Wesley Morgan | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Kentucky House of Representatives from the 81st district | |
| In office January 1, 2017 – January 1, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Rita Smart[1] |
| Succeeded by | Deanna Frazier |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Clinton Wesley Morgan July 23, 1950 Hyden, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Lindsey |
| Children | 2 |
| Residence(s) | Richmond, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Education | University of the Cumberlands (BS) Eastern Kentucky University (BBA) |
Early life and career
editMorgan grew up in Leslie County, Kentucky.[2] He graduated from Leslie County High School,[3] Cumberland College, and Eastern Kentucky University.[4]
After working as a criminal investigator for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms as a young man,[5] Morgan returned to Richmond, Kentucky, and opened a liquor store in 1982. Eventually, he opened a large business called Liquor World and became wealthy.[6] He expanded Liquor World into a chain of four stores.[7][5]
Political career
editMorgan ran for the Kentucky House of Representatives in the 81st district in the 2014 elections. He lost to Democrat Rita Smart, the incumbent.[2] In November 2016, buoyed by strong local support for Donald Trump, Morgan defeated Smart, receiving 9,056 votes to 8,980 for Smart, a margin of just 76 votes.[8]
Early in his single term, Morgan was criticized for introducing legislation that would have benefitted the liquor industry.[5] Democratic legislators criticized Morgan for introducing bills that would have immunized drivers who hit protesters in roads and would have allowed teachers to carry guns at school.[6]
Morgan clashed with Republican leaders as well. In November 2017, he called for the resignation of Republican Jeff Hoover, Speaker of the Kentucky House of Representatives, after the news emerged that Hoover had secretly settled a sexual harassment case brought by a female staffer. [9] Hoover resigned as speaker, but kept his house seat.
Morgan lost renomination to the Kentucky House to Deanna Frazier in the 2018 elections.[10] Upset with his defeat, Morgan endorsed the Democratic nominee in the race.[11] Morgan unsuccessfully ran for the Republican nomination in the 2020 U.S. Senate election in Kentucky against Mitch McConnell, placing second with 6.2% of the vote.[12] During the campaign, he denounced McConnell as a "deep-state traitor" and praised what he called the "patriots" of QAnon.[6]
Personal life
editMorgan and his first wife had a daughter, Jordan. He and his second wife, Lindsey, have a daughter named Sydney.[6][3]
Mansion
editIn 2009, convinced that the presidency of Barack Obama would lead the country to social breakdown, civil war, and "roving bands of gangs", Morgan purchased 200 acres (81 ha) of land near Richmond and built a 14,300-square-foot (1,330 m2) house with nine bedrooms and three kitchens.[13] He built a 2,000-square-foot (190 m2) survival bunker 26 feet (7.9 m) below ground level, with a 39-inch (990 mm) thick ceiling and two tunnels.[6][14]
After his defeat in the 2020 U.S. Senate primary, Morgan decided to sell his house and leave Kentucky.[14] He listed his house for $6.5 million on Zillow. The listing went viral and attracted unwanted attention and criticism because of the underground survival bunker.[14] On the night of February 22, 2022, an intruder climbed to a second-floor balcony, broke into the house, and killed Morgan's 32-year-old daughter Jordan in her bed. The man then shot Morgan in the arm; Morgan returned fire with a pistol, but the intruder escaped. He was arrested several days later and charged with murder and attempted murder. The suspect was described as a former soldier with psychiatric problems who had intended to take control of the underground bunker.[6] The listing for the home and bunker was removed from the market in August 2023.[15]
References
edit- ^ "KY State House 081 Race - Nov 08, 2016". Our Campaigns. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
- ^ a b brobinson@richmondregister.com, Bill Robinson/ (October 28, 2016). "ELECTION 2016 81st House District: C. Wesley Morgan". Richmond Register.
- ^ a b "Morgan seeks election to House's 81st District". Richmond Register. March 19, 2016. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
- ^ "U.S. Senate: Morgan feels McConnell 'undermining our constitutional rights'". Retrieved August 9, 2022.
- ^ a b c Robinson, Bill (January 7, 2017). "Critics call Morgan's bills self-serving". Richmond Register. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f Robertson, Campbell (July 21, 2022). "He Built a Home to Survive a Civil War. Tragedy Found Him Anyway.: C. Wesley Morgan once believed that the place he built, which included a 2,000-square-foot bunker, was the safest house in Kentucky". New York Times. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
- ^ Ward, Karla (February 26, 2022). "C. Wesley Morgan, politician injured in shooting, is businessman and former lawmaker". Lexington Herald Leader. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
- ^ Robinson, Bill (November 8, 2016). "Morgan beats Smart by 76 votes". Richmond Register. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
- ^ Staff (November 3, 2017). "KY State Rep. Wesley Morgan calls for impeachment of Hoover". WKYT. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
- ^ "State Rep. Morgan files suit against GOP challenger Frazier | News". richmondregister.com. July 5, 2018. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
- ^ "Wesley Morgan will support Democrat after Kentucky House primary loss". Courier-journal.com. Retrieved July 23, 2022.
- ^ "Former Kentucky lawmaker takes on McConnell in GOP Senate primary". Lexington Herald Leader. Archived from the original on May 29, 2019.
- ^ Sherman, Tiffani (November 10, 2021). "Prepping in Style? $6.5M Kentucky Mansion Has Huge Fallout Shelter". Realtor.com.
- ^ a b c Cheves, John (January 6, 2021). "Looking for a doomsday bunker? Former KY lawmaker is selling his for $6.5 million". Lexington Herald Leader.
- ^ "1266 Willis Branch Rd, Richmond, KY 40475".