LEXINGTON, Ky. — London Mayor Randall Weddle entered a not guilty plea Wednesday to four felony counts of campaign finance violations stemming from allegations that he made illegal excess contributions to support Gov. Andy Beshear's 2023 reelection campaign.

Weddle appeared in Laurel Circuit Court for his initial arraignment on charges returned by a grand jury on March 31. His attorney, Guthrie True of Frankfort, entered the plea on his behalf. Judge Michael O. Caperton accepted the plea and scheduled a hearing for July 15 on True's motion to change venue from Laurel to Franklin County.

The case stems from investigations into whether Weddle improperly made contributions that exceeded Kentucky's campaign finance limits. The Kentucky Lantern first raised questions about the contributions in April 2023, reporting that numerous Weddle relatives, employees and business associates had given maximum amounts to support Beshear despite coming from a Republican region and having no prior history of large political contributions.

According to the indictment, Weddle gave $93,000 in excess contributions to Beshear's campaign committee and the Kentucky Democratic Party between late December 2022 and early January 2023. Each of the four Class D felony counts carries a potential penalty of up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Beshear's campaign and the Kentucky Democratic Party refunded $202,000 to Weddle after he reported that the donations had been made on his personal credit card. Kentucky law at the time restricted individual contributions to $2,000 per candidate per election and $5,000 per year to the state-regulated part of the Kentucky Democratic Party.

Weddle's attorney has argued the violations were unintentional, contending that Beshear's chief fundraiser had indicated it was permissible to advance donations on a personal credit card. The Beshear campaign has denied giving such permission. Attorney General Russell Coleman's office took over the investigation from the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance and presented the matter to the Laurel County Grand Jury.

The change of venue motion argues the case should not be heard in Laurel County since Weddle was on a cruise in the Bahamas when he discussed the contributions electronically and transmitted the funds, making Franklin County the proper venue.