Liberty for All founder stands by director, who pleaded guilty to DUI Wednesday

The founder of the libertarian-leaning super PAC that has been involved in Kentucky’s 4th congressional district race is standing by the group’s executive director, Preston Bates, who pleaded guilty to driving under the influence on Wednesday in connection with an incident last year.

The Courier-Journal’s Joe Gerth- first reported Tuesday that Bates was facing those charges stemming from an incident on July 3, 2011. Bates, 23, was charged with DUI after backing his car into a fence in Louisville. His blood alcohol level was 0.121, which is above the 0.08 legal limit.

His attorney, Dennis Burke, entered the guilty plea on Bates’ behalf Wednesday. Two other charges — disorderly conduct and criminal mischief — were dropped. Bates was not present and declined to comment on Wednesday.

But John Ramsey, the Texas college student who founded and has funded the Liberty for All Super PAC issued a statement supporting Bates.

“Preston made a mistake and has taken full responsibility for his actions. I believe now, as I did when I hired him, that Preston is dedicated to our organization’s efforts to advance the economic and personal freedoms that have made our country the greatest nation on earth,” Ramsey said in the statement. “One might say, after all, that the greatest benefit of a society built on freedom is the ability to learn from the things we wish we’d done differently.”

The Liberty for All Super PAC has offices in Bellevue, Ky., and Austin, Texas, and has gotten involved in several races, including spending $561,000 on mailers and TV and radio ads supporting Thomas Massie, who won the May 22 Republican primary in the 4th congressional district.

Bates has said the group will continue to support Massie’s bid in the fall and could get involved in other Kentucky races as well.