A second female state senator has accused Sen. Jeff Kruse of inappropriately touching her at the Oregon Capitol, Senate Majority Leader Ginny Burdick said Tuesday.

Hers was the latest in an escalating number of reports that women, all but one of whom have declined to have their names made public, have accused Kruse of unwanted touching during his two decades in the Legislature.

Senate President Peter Courtney, expressing outrage that Kruse violated a 2016 directive not to touch women at work "period," has stripped the Roseburg Republican of all committee assignments, hobbling his ability to affect legislation.

Kruse, who did not respond to multiple requests for comment Tuesday, told The Oregonian/OregonLive by email Friday that he categorically denied touching women inappropriately. He told the Roseburg News Review he expects to be cleared and back to work under normal conditions when the Legislature is next in session, in February.

Burdick would not name the second senator or her party affiliation or disclose details of her allegations or the date she made her report.

"I'm not saying anything," Burdick said. "It's enough to say that there was another one."

Staff in Courtney' s office said they fielded the report of misconduct last week.

The only woman who has gone public with accusations, apart from Burdick vouching that other women were affected, is Sen. Sara Gelser, a Corvallis Democrat. She told The Oregonian/OregonLive Monday that Kruse first touched her inappropriately around 2011 and the behavior continued. She did not report him until 2016, she said.

The accusation by a second senator has trigged a fact-finding inquiry, Dexter Johnson, head lawyer at the Legislature, said Tuesday. Johnson said he will interview all female state senators to get a better picture of Kruse's conduct.

Gov. Kate Brown released a statement Tuesday evening saying workplace harassment is "absolutely unacceptable." She did not name Kruse. Brown said it is clear that no workplace is immune from sexual harassment and abuse against women, including the Oregon Capitol.

"This behavior must be stopped, and I applaud the courage of those who brought these allegations to light," Brown said.

Sen. Sara Gelser, D-Corvallis

Johnson said Gelser was not the only person to report Kruse to his office and Legislative human resources officials in 2016. Johnson declined to name who else reported Kruse and declined to say whether they were a member of the Legislature or staff.

"The individuals involved asked not to be named I'm going to leave it at that," Johnson said. He said he is not aware of any reports of impropriety made against Kruse prior to 2016.

Johnson said he "explained in detail" to Kruse at the time what he was accused of and told him people felt he had invaded their personal space. Kruse was told to "back off," Johnson said.

But Kruse did not stop, Gelser said.

Burdick, D-Portland, told The Oregonian/OregonLive Sunday that she witnessed Kruse wrapping his arms around and standing too close to Gelser on the Senate floor this year. Burdick said she intervened and told Kruse not to touch Gelser.

Burdick also said this year's incident was not the first time she had seen Kruse inappropriately touch a woman on the Senate floor. She described his conduct with women as a "chronic problem."

Rep. Jodi Hack, a Salem Republican, said a sexist culture remains in the Oregon Capitol, just as in many other workplaces. Hack said she's glad women are speaking out to raise awareness of the problem.

Hack declined to go into detail or say whether she'd observed inappropriate behavior by other lawmakers. But she confirmed that she's experienced offensive comments from men in her capacity as a lawmaker.

"I think we all have," Hack said.

After denying inappropriate touching in an email to The Oregonian/OregonLive Friday, Kruse has stopped responding to requests for comment. He has told the Roseburg News Review that he is unaware of the specific allegations against him and that he has no plans to resign.

Courtney sent Kruse a letter Friday notifying him his continuing to touch women at the Capitol and smoke in his office prompted Courtney to impose unprecedented sanctions on him.

In the letter, released to The Oregonian/OregonLive Tuesday, Courtney told Kruse he has "repeatedly broken the law" by smoking in his Capitol office and the parking garage. Kruse had been fined twice by Oregon's health agency, but smoked in the Capitol as recently as September, Courtney wrote.

Kruse's continued smoking "demonstrates your disrespect for the laws of this state" and leaves the legislative branch open to liability and "public scorn and charges of hypocrisy," Courtney wrote.

Courtney said Kruse was also warned in 2016 "not to touch women at work. Period."

"Let me be very clear. Women in the Capitol do NOT want you to touch them," Courtney, D-Salem, wrote.

The letter does not name the women who accused Kruse of inappropriate touching and it does not give details of the incidents. Courtney did not respond to requests for comment Tuesday.

In a statement, Senate Republican Ted Ferrioli, R-John Day, said he is aware of Courtney's letter. He said no one has filed a formal complaint against Kruse. Ferrioli acknowledged that there is an ongoing investigation into Kruse's conduct and said the Senate Republican Caucus takes it seriously.

In his letter, Courtney said of the discipline he leveled against Kruse, "I have never taken this kind of action before but I am left with no other options at this time to protect our employees, members of the legislature and the public."

Oregon's state senators can take further action against Kruse. The Oregon Constitution gives lawmakers power to censure or expel a member of their chamber on a two-thirds vote. There is no indication that senators are contemplating such a vote. The earliest it could occur is mid-November, when the Senate is schedule to meet in order to confirm the governor's latest batch of appointees.

Politics reporter Hillary Borrud contributed to this story.

-- Gordon R. Friedman

503-221-8209; @GordonRFriedman