Indiana’s Attorney General Under Pressure To Resign
By Michael PuenteIndiana’s Attorney General Under Pressure To Resign
By Michael PuenteAn Indiana lawmaker who accused Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill of sexual misconduct is speaking out publicly.
“Truly, I came forward because I wanted to give a voice to the women that were afraid to come forward because they are just starting out their careers,” Indiana state Rep. Mara Candelaria Reardon, a Democrat whose district is in Northwest Indiana, told WBEZ on Friday.
“They are afraid and intimidated by an elected official, the highest law enforcement official in our state,” Reardon said.
Four women have accused Hill, a Republican, of inappropriate conduct while at an Indianapolis bar in March.
The allegations were disclosed in a legislative report released earlier this week, with the names of the accusers kept confidential.
Reardon said Hill was intoxicated and groped her at the bar during a gathering of lawmakers and staffers to celebrate the end of the legislative session.
“Curtis Hill had an opportunity to apologize for his behavior, accept responsibility, and move forward. He chose to double-down on his denial and call us liars. That’s unacceptable,” Reardon said. “I only can speak my truth and I did. He’s got to deal with the fallout, I don’t. I didn’t do anything so I shouldn’t have to hide.”
Despite calls by Indiana’s Republican governor and other elected leaders for him to step down, Hill said Friday that he will not. He continued to deny the allegations.
“I am not resigning,” Hill said in a statement. “The allegations against me are vicious and false. At no time did I ever grab or touch anyone inappropriately. The lack of fairness and the failure to recognize my constitutional rights are a complete travesty.”
Hill called for a “fair and thorough investigation” into the allegations against him in a statement released Friday.
Attorney General Curtis Hill seeks thorough investigation of accusations against him. pic.twitter.com/AaI2gXsQ6B
— Curtis T. Hill, Jr. (@AGCurtisHill) July 6, 2018
Michael Puente covers Northwest Indiana and Cook County government for WBEZ. Follow him on Twitter @MikePuenteNews.