Montgomery, Ala. (WDNews) – The former head of Alabama’s Department of Veterans’ Affairs, Admiral Kent Davis, is suing Governor Kay Ivey, claiming she fired him without the legal right to do so.
Davis filed a federal lawsuit accusing the governor of defamation, wrongful termination, invasion of privacy, and interfering with the State Board of Veterans’ Affairs.
The issue began when Davis tried to use federal COVID relief money to give one-time mental health grants to groups that help veterans. His department partnered with the Alabama Department of Mental Health to handle the money. That partnership ended after more groups were added to receive the funds.
The Department of Mental Health returned the money and told the state finance department there may have been issues with how it was being handled. The finance department investigated and found no wrongdoing. Since the deadline to use the money was near, it was returned to the state.
Later, the Legislature passed a new bill to send the same amount of money back to Veterans’ Affairs, which Governor Ivey signed in May 2024.
In July 2024, Davis filed an ethics complaint against the Mental Health Commissioner after concerns were raised by the State Board. That complaint was later dismissed. The lawsuit claims this may have led to the governor deciding to fire Davis.
Davis was appointed to the job by the State Board of Veterans’ Affairs for a second term in 2019. His lawsuit argues that only the board—not the governor—had the authority to remove him.
