Indiana attorney general says groping allegations are false

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill defiantly rejected calls to resign on Monday, 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 where 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.”

“These past several days and weeks, my name and reputation have been dragged through the gutter in ways that I would have never imagined. 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.