Indiana’s Hill accused of groping
Four women allege improper touching by attorney general
INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill faced calls to resign Tuesday after an internal legislative memo was leaked publicly, detailing allegations that the Republican inappropriately touched four women at an Indianapolis bar, including a lawmaker who said he groped her even after she told him to “back off.”
In a statement, Hill lashed out, saying he has no plans to step down while calling an inquiry into the claims a “prejudicial investigation that is deeply troubling.”
But Indiana Democrats, including Senate minority leader Tim Lanane and party Chairman John Zody, said the lawmaker and three legislative staffers made credible claims that demonstrate Hill lacks the character needed for the job.
So far, no prominent Republicans have said Hill should resign. Kyle Hupfer, the state’s party chairman, said the GOP has “zero tolerance for sexual harassment” but stopped short of calling on Hill to quit.
The Indianapolis Star on Monday was the first to report on the confidential eight-page memo detailing an investigation into the matter. The document was written by the law firm Taft Stettinius & Hollister at the request of Indiana legislative leaders.
It presents a picture of an intoxicated Hill who was carousing during a party at a bar in the early morning hours of March 15, shortly after this year’s legislative session came to a close.
The document, dated June 18, states that Hill’s alleged conduct toward the legislative employees may have been “inappropriate,” but was “likely not severe or pervasive enough to result in a hostile work environment.” However, the firm found that Hill’s conduct toward the lawmaker was “likely egregious enough to meet the threshold of ‘severe.’ ”
Hill, a staunch social conservative who is married, has been viewed as a rising star in the Republican Party.
“At no time was my behavior inappropriate nor did I touch anyone in an inappropriate manner,” Hill said in a statement. He also said he was never contacted by an investigator and that he hasn’t “been informed of who made these allegations.”
” Holcomb said. “I’ll return to Indianapolis late tomorrow night. Until I’ve reviewed the facts in detail, I will have no further comment.”