Paul’s father-in-law says $10,000 in farm subsidies were split with brother and sister

Paul’s father-in-law says others got subsidy, too

FRANKFORT, Ky. — U.S. Senate candidate Rand Paul’s father-in-law says he split more than $10,000 in federal farm subsidy payments between 1996 and 2007 with siblings.

Hilton Ashby said Monday the candidate knew nothing about the payments that he, his brother and sister split evenly. They were paid to keep fallow their late father’s farm.

Paul’s Republican campaign acknowledged Friday that his in-laws had benefited from federal farm subsidies that he has been criticizing, triggering accusations of hypocrisy from his Democratic rival.

Paul told a group of Kentucky farmers in Louisville last week that the federal payments may need to be cut to reduce the national debt. Democrat Jack Conway said eliminating the subsidy program, which pumped more than $200 million into the state last year, would hurt farmers.