An independent counsel is going to examine allegations against Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes. Attorney General Andy Beshear has appointed Garrard County Attorney Mark Metcalf to investigate accusations that Grimes misused voter data to influence hiring decisions on state employees. The executive director of the state Board of Elections claims Grimes’ staff used the voter registration database to look up the party affiliation of people applying for jobs at the board of elections. Grimes is denying the allegations but will cooperate with the investigatio