Louisville Metro Councilman Dan Johnson exposed his buttocks in parking lot, City Hall aide says

Phillip M. Bailey | Courier Journal

Show Caption Hide Caption Dan Johnson accused of groping fellow Democrat Metro Councilman Dan Johnson is accused of groping fellow Democrat Jessica Green, in an unprecedented controversy for City Hall.

A Metro Council staffer alleges Democrat Dan Johnson exposed his buttocks to her last year in the parking lot outside City Hall.

The allegation comes in the wake of Councilwoman Jessica Green's accusation that Johnson groped her at an event last week, an allegation that has spurred an internal investigation by the council's Democratic caucus.

Johnson did not immediately respond to an email or voicemail requesting comment left at 9:37 a.m. Tuesday.

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In the alleged incident outside City Hall, Erin Hinson, a legislative aide to Councilwoman Angela Leet, told the Courier-Journal that she was leaving work last fall when she saw Johnson in the parking lot. She alleges he made a grunting noise and that when she turned around, his pants were on the ground exposing his bare buttocks.

Hinson said she ran to her car before Johnson pulled his pants back up. He then walked back to his car, she said, which was parked behind her vehicle.

"He walked by again — this time closer to my car — if I had opened my door I would have hit him," she said. "And his pants fell down again."

Hinson said she saw Johnson's belly button "and a little below" that before turning away. She reported the incident to Leet and Republican caucus director Steve Haag Jr.

Leet said she initially thought the incident may have been an accident but later reported it to Council President David Yates after allegations surfaced last October that Johnson made inappropriate comments to a Greater Louisville Inc. staffer on a business trip.

Yates said in a statement Tuesday evening that he had spoken with Leet about the incident involving her legislative aide..

"Based on the description of events it appeared to be an accident and thus neither Councilwoman Leet nor Mrs. Hinson sought to memorialize the incident," Yates said.

Yates added, however, "in light of the recent allegations, I am concerned with any pattern of conduct that creates a hostile or uncomfortable environment in the workplace." He said his office looks forward to reviewing deficiencies in council policies and procedures "so that we, as a Council, may better address future concerns.”

Johnson, a charter member of the council, has been under scrutiny after Green alleged he grabbed her right buttock and squeezed it during a group photo on June 7. That same day, she wrote a letter to Yates saying Johnson "leaned down and whispered into my ear laughing, 'You know that was an accident, right?' "

Johnson has denied Green's allegations, saying he touched her by accident. But in a tweet — which he later deleted — he accused Green of harassment.

"Truth is, she touched me first when she nestled against my left side," Johnson said. "I was harassed too."

Green said in a statement Monday that Johnson's tweet was a lie.

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In separate statements issued last week, Yates and Democratic caucus Chairman Bill Hollander said Green's allegations are concerning and that they have forwarded information about the incident to the city's Human Resources Department.

Asked if human resources has jurisdiction over council members, Jean Porter, a spokeswoman for Mayor Greg Fischer, said due to the separation of powers "the Metro Council governs itself."

Hollander said Tuesday he had never heard of the incident involving Leet's legislative aide until a reporter told him about it. But he confirmed the 17-member Democratic caucus has launched its own internal investigation into Green's allegations.

"Caucus rules provide for a confidential investigation of any allegation of misconduct against a member or staff," Hollander said.

Reporter Phillip M. Bailey can be reached at 502-582-4475 or pbailey@courier-journal.com.