FRANKFORT, Ky. — Demands from key Republicans grew Saturday for resignations of anyone involved in a secret settlement of sexual harassment claims by GOP House Speaker Jeff Hoover as Courier Journal reported more House members are alleged to be parties to the settlement.

Gov. Matt Bevin, Kentucky's top Republican officeholder, led the charge at a hastily called press conference at the Capitol.

"These alleged actions, which haven’t been denied, are reprehensible, indefensible and unacceptable," Bevin said. "Any elected official or state employee who has settled a sexual harassment claim should resign immediately. The people of Kentucky deserve better."

Also on Saturday, eight influential Republican House members released an extraordinary statement demanding immediate resignations of any House member involved in the settlement.

The demand came as Courier Journal reported three other Republican lawmakers and a staff member were involved in the settlement of sexual harassment claims of a woman who works on Hoover's legislative staff.

Earlier coverage

►House GOP leaders launch independent investigation in wake of report

►Hoover remains House speaker with 'support' of GOP caucus despite case

►Here's what Jeff Hoover said about sexual harassment in 2014

The GOP House members said they are "shocked and angered by the allegations of sexual harassment, none of which have been denied or even disputed."

Meanwhile, Hoover — who has been largely silent since Courier Journal first reported the settlement on Wednesday, citing unnamed sources — issued a statement Saturday, saying he has no plans to resign.

"I am more resolved than ever to continue my work as Speaker thru the 2018 session and I will continue to speak out for all Kentuckians on issues of importance," it said.

But support among his party appeared to be collapsing, just 24 hours after House Majority Leader Jonathan Shell claimed Hoover has the "full support" of the Republican caucus.

"Contrary to what has been reported, the representatives at issue did not have the 'full' support of the entire Republican caucus," the statement from eight Republican lawmakers said.

Courier Journal reported Saturday that three other House Republicans and Hoover’s chief of staff were parties to the secret settlement Hoover reached Oct. 25, according to Courier Journal sources who asked not to be identified for fear of reprisal.

The other parties were identified as Reps. Jim DeCesare of Rockfield, Brian Linder of Dry Ridge and Michael Meredith of Brownsville and Ginger Wills, the chief of staff.

Meredith is chairman of the Local Government Committee, and DeCesare is chairman of the Economic Development and Workforce Investment Committee.

None could be reached immediately for comment Saturday night.

Bevin had been silent since Courier Journal was the first to report the settlement on Wednesday. But Saturday, he spoke out forcefully, saying, "You either publicly condone or you publicly condemn this type of behavior."

The eight House Republicans struck a similar tone in their statement Saturday.

"We call for the immediate resignation of all members involved in the confidential settlement of allegations of misconduct with legislative staff," they said. "We likewise call for the resignation of any House member or (legislative) staff that participated in, or in any way abided in the underlying conduct or sought to intimidate staff, or otherwise obstruct the reporting or publication of the alleged misconduct."

The statement was issued by House Republicans Robert J. Benvenuti of Lexington, Joe Fischer of Fort Thomas, Kim King of Harrodsburg, Stan Lee of Lexington, Tim Moore of Elizabethtown, Phil Moffett of Louisville, Russell Webber of Shepherdsville, and Addia Wuchner of Burlington.

The comments by Bevin and the eight House members come one day after Shell, the Republican majority leader, dismissed as "rumors and allegations" the Courier Journal report of the sexual harassment settlement.

Courier Journal's story included copies of sexually suggestive text messages that a source said were between Hoover and the woman who claimed harassment.

“If you decided to send a photo of the black lace g string, I won’t share. For my eyes only,” reads one text sent to the woman.

Hoover and the woman, whom Courier Journal is not identifying because she said she is a victim of sexual harassment, have declined to comment on the settlement.

Shell did not immediately respond to a request for comment Saturday.

Bevin said he cannot tolerate sexual harassment or efforts to conceal it, calling it "a culture that is despicable, that is vulgar and that is unacceptable.”

"I want to draw a very clear, clear line in the sand for every elected official in Kentucky. A very clear one," he said. "These actions that have been alleged, not denied, and increasingly corroborated and that are increasing in specificity and in number — were not isolated to a single person or a single event but involved multiple events and multiple people."

Shell spoke with reporters Friday after House Republicans met for a three-hour closed session to discuss the confidential settlement and other matters. He deflected questions about the settlement and affirmed support for Hoover.

"Jeff Hoover is the speaker of the House, and he has the full support of this caucus," Shell said.

But a tweet posted shortly after the caucus by one House Republican showed otherwise.

Rep. Wesley Morgan, R-Madison, tweeted, "The Speaker has made it clear that he refuses to resign. With that being said, the only option is impeachment by the full house."

Morgan continued a flurry of tweets Saturday, saying he was "disgusted" by the allegations and told Courier Journal any lawmakers involved need to be held accountable.

Also, on Saturday four House Republicans in leadership, including Shell, said they were launching an independent investigation "because of the allegations and rumors swirling in the media and in the Capitol." The four did not include Hoover.

Hoover, in his statement, said he supports "an independent review of this entire series of events" and would "look forward to the results of that review."

Hoover's only other public comment about the scandal came prior to Friday's caucus meeting when reporters asked if he planned to resign.

"Absolutely not," he said, according to the Associated Press.

House Democratic caucus chairman Dennis Keene, of Wilder, attended Bevin's press conference Saturday and agreed with the governor's demands that anyone involved in alleged sexual harassment should resign.

"This has never been seen before," Keene said. "It's amazing that he's taking this type of stance, and it's probably the right thing to do."

The sexual harassment allegations come as House Republicans struggle to get a consensus on an overhaul of the state's troubled pension system, a legislative priority of Bevin.

Bevin, who had hoped to get a pension bill passed in a special legislative session before the end of the year, did not respond when a reporter asked whether the controversy would hurt its chances.

Keene predicted it will.

"I think pensions are off the track," he said. "It's probably over until the regular session."

Reach Tom Loftus at 502-875-5136 or tloftus@courier-journal.com and Deborah Yetter at 502-582-4228 or dyetter@courier-journal.com.