Former Kentucky Lawmaker Acquitted of Rape Charge

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — John Tilley, a former Kentucky lawmaker and cabinet secretary, has been acquitted of rape charges following a trial in Lexington. A jury reached a not guilty verdict after five hours of deliberation on Tuesday, as reported by local media. The case stemmed from an incident in April 2022, where a woman accused Tilley of rape after claiming she blacked out from an alcoholic drink given to her by an unknown man at a bar. During the trial, it was established that the man who provided the drink was not Tilley. Tilley’s defense argued that the encounter between him and the woman was consensual. In contrast, prosecutors contended that the woman was too intoxicated to give consent and was physically helpless at the time of the incident. Evidence presented included hotel surveillance footage showing the woman with Tilley and two other men, where she appeared unstable and required assistance to maintain her balance. Despite the acquittal, the legal battle is not over for Tilley, as a civil suit filed by the woman against him remains pending. Tilley previously served as a Democratic state representative from western Kentucky before being appointed as the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet secretary under former Republican Governor Matt Bevin’s administration. The case has drawn significant attention, highlighting issues of consent and accountability in sexual assault allegations.