Ind. official rejects touching claims, won’t quit
Several women at party say he acted improperly
INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill on Monday rejected calls to resign, saying his name has been “dragged through the gutter,” following allegations that he inappropriately touched a lawmaker and several female legislative staffers during a party.
The Republican said during a news conference in which he did not take questions that he has been unfairly treated by lawmakers and the media, and stands “falsely and publicly accused of abhorrent behavior.”
“Apparently in this climate, the standard is guilty and ‘Who cares if you’re innocent?’” he said from a podium in his office. “A week ago today, I had a name. And I want my name back.”
The claims against Hill were made public after an internal legislative memo detailing the allegations was leaked to the media last week. In it, a state lawmaker and three legislative staffers said Hill drunkenly groped them during a March party.
Democratic Rep. Mara Candelaria Reardon and Gabrielle Mclemore, the Indiana Senate Democrats’ communications director, came forward Friday saying they were among the victims.
Hill called the allegations “vicious and false” and said he looked forward to “the day when I can speak freely and answer questions.” He didn’t respond to shouted questions about whether he was calling the women liars.
In a statement released after the news conference, Candelaria Reardon called Hill’s actions abhorrent.
“Curtis Hill, through his actions, has betrayed the public trust and lied about his actions to the very citizens he serves,” said Candelaria Reardon, of Munster.
Rep. Ryan Dvorak of South Bend, a city the neighbors Hill’s hometown of Elkhart, also lambasted him.
“The attorney general calls a press conference to cry about not being able to tell his side of the story, then immediately refuses to tell his side of the story,” the Democrat tweeted.
Over the past week, Republicans and Democrats alike have ratcheted up pressure on Hill to resign. Democrats were the first to call for him to step down. But they were joined on Thursday by Republican Gov.
Eric Holcomb and GOP legislative leaders, who said that they believe the women.