Disclosure of Curtis Hill groping allegations prompts leak investigation

Republican leaders of the General Assembly remain silent about allegations that Attorney General Curtis Hill inappropriately touched a lawmaker and three legislative staffers — but they are launching an investigation into who leaked a memo outlining the allegations.

“At some point, there was an internal and egregious breach of confidentiality, and the memo was inappropriately shared with representatives of the media,” House Speaker Brian Bosma and President Pro Tempore David Long said Tuesday in a joint statement. "At this time, we are investigating the source of this breach of employee confidentiality and will react accordingly if the source is discovered."

They also revealed Tuesday that they first addressed the allegations with Hill in a conference call on Friday. That means they waited for 11 days to confront Hill about the allegations after receiving a legal memo recommending that they inform Hill of the allegations and tell him that the alleged behavior would not be tolerated.

The confrontation took place only after IndyStar — which first disclosed Monday the allegations contained in the memo — began making inquiries last week.

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Bosma and Long did not answer questions about the reasons for the delay, nor would they say what was communicated to Hill during the conference call or a follow-up meeting with the attorney general in Bosma's office on Monday.

They also declined to answer questions about whether they believe the accusations to be true, or about whether they believe Hill should resign.

The new wrinkles in the ongoing scandal came as Democrats called for Hill's resignation and Republican leaders, including Gov. Eric Holcomb, promised to review the allegations while emphasizing that the groping and other actions described in an eight-page memo obtained by IndyStar were unacceptable.

Hill declined Tuesday to speak with reporters for a second day in a row, but in a series of updated written statements, he reasserted his denials of any inappropriate behavior, criticized what he called a "lack of due process," and committed to staying in office.

"I first learned about this investigation on Friday, yet I was never contacted by an investigator, met with legislators on Monday, had requested a copy of the 'confidential' report that had been provided to the media, and have been denied access to the report," Hill said in one of the statements. "Now I am being asked if I intend to resign based upon this prejudicial investigation. Let me be clear, I am not resigning my position as Attorney General."

The allegations against Hill were documented in the memo prepared by an outside law firm at the request of legislative leaders who were concerned about liability. The memo describes interviews that legislative leaders or their attorneys conducted with six women who attended a party at AJ’s Lounge, a bar just south of Downtown, to celebrate the end of the legislative session in March.

One of the women, a lawmaker, said Hill was drunk and twice reached under her clothing and grabbed her buttocks. Another woman, a legislative staffer, said Hill also groped her buttocks, even after she tried to remove his hand. Another legislative employee said Hill hugged her to him and a third said he rubbed her back for two minutes.

Several women also said Hill told women at the bar they needed to show more skin or leg to receive free drinks or faster service.

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The confidential memo, dated June 18, concludes that the House and Senate could not be held liable for creating a hostile work environment since none of the women who have made the allegations are Hill’s employees and the event was not officially sanctioned by the House or Senate.

Hill's pledge Tuesday to stay in office came after Indiana Democratic Party Chairman John Zody called the allegations “beyond troubling and wildly inappropriate in a professional or social environment for any person, much less a statewide elected official with such responsibility.”

“We believe the multiple allegations against the Attorney General are serious, and raise material doubts over whether he can effectively carry out the duties of his office,” Zody said in a statement. “Attorney General Hill should spare Hoosiers from this controversy and resign.”

He also cited recent comments made by Holcomb during an announcement in March that all three branches of state government would be updating their sexual harassment policies. Holcomb and Hill are both Republicans.

“Like Governor Eric Holcomb has previously stated, Hoosier Democrats agree that there’s ‘zero room for harassment of any kind in any state government workplace,’” Zody said in the statement. “These actions are never acceptable.”

Senate Democratic Leader Tim Lanane, D-Anderson, joined the call for Hill's resignation later on Tuesday, saying Hill "can no longer adequately represent the best interest of Hoosiers."

"The Attorney General’s behavior was totally reprehensible and certainly calls into question his ability to carry out his duties as the chief law enforcement officer of the state," Lanane said. "The office and duties of the Attorney General call for the highest levels of ethics and unquestionable character and I believe Curtis Hill falls completely short of that standard."

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Lanane was among the four legislative leaders who met with Hill in Bosma's office Monday afternoon as IndyStar was preparing to publish the initial story about the accusations. He would not say Tuesday whether or not he called for Hill's resignation during that meeting, or whether further action from lawmakers was needed.

Republican leaders, meanwhile, stopped short of calling for Hill's resignation.

Republican Party Chairman Kyle Hupfer said in a statement late Monday that he is continuing to learn about the details of the legislative investigation into the allegations against Hill and he praised Bosma and Long, both Republicans, for promptly looking into the accusations and working with Democrats in the legislature to investigate.

“It’s important to be clear: As the Republican Party, we have zero tolerance for sexual harassment, and that’s the standard to which we should all adhere,” Hupfer said in the statement. “Actions like these alleged have no place in public life or anywhere else.”

Holcomb is in a remote area of Montana celebrating his anniversary with his wife this week, and issued an emailed statement Tuesday morning.

“We took great care to update our sexual harassment policies for the executive, legislative and judicial branches in the past few months," Holcomb said in the statement. "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."

He said he will have no further comment on the allegations against Hill until he returns home late Wednesday night and has an opportunity to review the facts in detail.

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Call IndyStar reporter Tony Cook at (317) 444-6081. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook.