A coalition of tea party groups in Kentucky are lashing out at Washington, D.C. publication in defense of Republican Senate candidate Matt Bevin for a story reporting he signed a document praising the bank bailouts.But not everyone is buying the Louisville businessman's explanation even as conservative activists rally around Bevin.Politico uncovered the letter from Bevin's mutual fund company, which sings the virtues of the $700 billion Troubled Assistance Relief Fund (TARP).For years Kentucky Tea Party groups have slammed Republican incumbent Sen. Mitch McConnell for voting in favor of the proposal six years ago. Bevin has also criticized the senator's vote on numerous occasions despite news that Veracity Fund held stock in nearly a dozen companies that received TARP funding.Earlier this week tea party activists told WFPL they had serious questions for Bevin when the story brokegiven their opposition to TARP. The United Kentucky Tea Party announced Thursday they are standing by their endorsement and accepting Bevin's explanation."After reading the Politico article, speaking with Matt Bevin and researching the facts, we are firmly convinced that the article has absolutely no merit and that this was a deliberate and unfounded smear attack by Politico," says UKTP spokesman Scott Hofstra."The UKTP wouldn’t be surprised if the McConnell campaign fed this information to Politico. This has their campaign’s mudslinging signature all over it."Bevin has said in several follow-up interviews that signing the letter was a formality, adding it didn't reflect his views at the time."I did not write any of the letters that were ever published as investment commentary" Bevin told radio show host Glenn Beck. "I was the president and chairman of the board and by (Security and Exchange Commission) law, was required to sign prospectuses when they were sent out."A prominent Republican attorney, however, says Bevin's credibility is on the line and is telling Kentucky voters to pay closer attention.From National Review:
