Invitation to Kentucky Bourbon Event Aligns with Reddit Accusation

An email invitation to the “Inaugural Kentucky Bourbon and Churchill Downs” event last weekend confirms some basic details provided by an anonymous Reddit poster who accused some North Carolina legislators of rude and drunken behavior. 

The invitation, which was obtained by The Assembly, was sent by the group Greater Carolina and welcomed recipients to join the gathering from April 25 to 27 at the Omni Hotel in downtown Louisville. Sarah Newby, the finance chair for the North Carolina Republican Party, was listed as the contact person, although her job title was not given on the invitation sent February 13. 

On Reddit, a user who identified themself as a bourbon distillery representative posted over the weekend that 33 North Carolina officials behaved poorly as guests at a recent event at a distillery. 

“Their arrival was marked by loud, unruly conduct that disrupted other guests and tarnished the atmosphere we work hard to maintain,” wrote the Reddit user ItIsCroy. “What was perhaps most disturbing was their lack of accountability for their actions. Despite being extremely rude, disruptive, not tipping the bartenders and tour guides, and even VOMITING in our bathroom sinks, not a single apology was offered.”

The poster accepted a message from The Assembly seeking comment, but did not respond. The user wrote on the Reddit thread that they were an employee of the Kentucky distillery. 

The Reddit poster did not name legislators, but wrote that after looking at various pages online, “I recognized the finance director of the NCGOP in an instant. I’m 95% sure. She stood out because she was a lot nicer and more composed than the majority of the group.”

Newby, the daughter of state Supreme Court Chief Justice Paul Newby, did not respond to requests for comment.

Greater Carolina is a group affiliated with influential state Rep. Jason Saine, senior chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. Saine said he isn’t on Greater Carolina’s board of directors. But he is closely tied to it. He’s the only person listed as a host for an event the group is holding in Raleigh on May 9, according to another invitation obtained by The Assembly.

“I was not at any event that has been described in the anonymous post. I have no other comment,” Saine wrote in a text message to The Assembly on Monday. A day later, Saine confirmed he attended the event but it was “not like what was described” on Reddit.

Greater Carolina describes itself as a “coalition of forward thinking, pro-free market conservative leaders from across North Carolina dedicated to ensuring a stronger economic future for ALL of North Carolina.” Greater Carolina’s director is listed in the group’s latest tax filing as David Coble, a Republican political operative. 

Invitations were extended to several Republican legislators, including several on the House side, according to a lawmaker who asked not to be named. The invitation indicated the trip would be paid for by Greater Carolina, a 501(c)(4) social-welfare organization that is tax exempt. Jonathan Felts, a spokesman for Greater Carolina, said Tuesday no taxpayer money was used to fund the trip.

Felts declined to name legislators who attended and said the event was not coordinated with the state Republican Party. He said one attendee got motion sickness on the bus on the way to the event and vomited at the site. “The person and friends/colleagues helped to clean it up,” Felts wrote. And he said Greater Carolina left a generous tip.

House Democratic Leader Robert Reives said he wasn’t aware of any Democrats being invited on the trip. 

Republican state Sen. Tim Moffitt, who has been a key player in alcohol oversight, said he did not receive an invitation and did not attend. Senate leader Phil Berger told reporters he did not attend.

The invitation was sent by Kevin Wilkinson, who leads the Raleigh branch of The Southern Group, a lobbying firm that was founded in Florida. He has served as a policy adviser to former Republican state Sen. Robert Bryan and worked on Capitol Hill as a staff member for former U.S. Rep. Robert Pittenger. Wilkinson said he was unavailable for comment.

Matt Mercer, a spokesman for the North Carolina Republican Party, said Sarah Newby wouldn’t be commenting on the matter. “I have seen the posts and can confirm it was not an NCGOP event or affiliated with the state party,” Mercer said in a statement. 

Greater Carolina didn’t respond to messages seeking comment. Mercer said he expects the group to weigh in on the matter soon.

The Reddit poster wrote that they hoped lawmakers would hold themselves to greater account going forward.

“North Carolina should want better from their officials and ensure that such behavior is not tolerated,” the poster wrote. “I’d love to see government officials represent their states with dignity and class, not as rude drunkards who literally expect hourly workers to clean up their puke.”

Update: This article has been updated to include comments from Jason Saine and Jonathan Felts.

Bryan Anderson is a freelance reporter who most recently covered elections, voting access, and state government for WRAL-TV. He previously reported for the Associated Press and The News & Observer. You can subscribe to his newsletter here.