No Resignation For Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill

INDIANAPOLIS, IN —Attorney General Curtis Hill said he won't resign from his position following recent accusations that he inappropriately touched four women at a bar during an event in March. The Indianapolis Star reported Republican Hill said the following in response to Monday's breaking news of the allegations against him:

"Let me be clear, I am not resigning my position as Attorney General," Hill, a Republican, said in a statement. "The people of the State of Indiana have given me the highest honor to have elected me with overwhelming support to the position of Attorney General. I will continue to honor my commitment to the citizens of this great state."

According to IndyStar, Indiana Democratic Party Chairman John Zody said Hill should resign, calling the allegations "serious" and “beyond troubling and wildly inappropriate in a professional or social environment for any person, much less a statewide elected official with such responsibility.”

Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb released a statement Tuesday, shared by WISH, regarding the allegations against Hill:

“I’m in a remote area of Montana with Janet celebrating our anniversary for a few days. I have limited information from media sources I’m able to access."

“We took great care to update our sexual harassment policies for the executive, legislative and judicial branches in the past few months. No one should be subjected to unwanted sexual advances. I commend House and Senate leaders for their immediate and formal follow up to the allegations presented to them."

“I’ll return to Indianapolis late tomorrow night. Until I’ve reviewed the facts in detail, I will have no further comment.

Original Patch report

Four women are accusing Attorney General Curtis Hill of inappropriately touching them at a bar back in March, leading to an investigation by Indiana General Assembly leaders. The Indianapolis Star reported three legislative staffers and a lawmaker claim this happened on the final night of the legislative session in the early morning hours of March 15. According to the news report, there's a multiple-page memo prepared by the Taft Stettinius & Hollister law firm detailing the accusations, which was requested by legislative leaders.

The memo summarizes interviews done by legislative leaders or legal counsel members with six women who attended the party at AJ's Lounge. It also outlines allegations of inappropriate touching, listing each woman and their accusations, including one lawmaker who accused an intoxicated Hill of reaching under her clothing and grabbing her buttocks, and telling him to back off before he later did the same thing once again.

The news source said Hill called the allegations "deeply troubling," in an emailed statement, adding that in no time was his behavior inappropriate nor did he "touch anyone in an inappropriate manner," among other words.

(See the details of the memo, actions being taken by Indiana General Assembly officials and legislators, and more via indystar.com).

Photo credit: Office of Indiana Attorney General