'The special treatment of Curtis Hill': How investigators handled Hill, his accusers differently Curtis Hill did not deserve the privilege he was afforded during a groping investigation, writes columnist Suzette Hackney

Suzette Hackney | IndyStar

Show Caption Hide Caption This is the Curtis Hill investigation from the perspective of his accusers The women who accused Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill of inappropriate touching share their experiences during his investigation.

Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill, facing allegations that he inappropriately touched four women at an Indianapolis bar, submitted a video-recorded statement to the special prosecutor investigating the claims from the comfort of his attorney's office, with one of his lawyers asking him questions.

By contrast, when questioned by investigators, two of Hill's accusers were prompted to demonstrate on other women how Hill allegedly groped them during an end-of-legislative session party. And an Indiana state representative who said Hill touched her twice that night without permission was interviewed inside a wall-carpeted police interrogation room.

While these women — traumatized by what they described as one of the worst nights of their lives — had to undergo repeated interrogations, Hill was not required even to meet with investigators to answer questions.

In what universe is that fair and impartial justice?

It's not.

Read part 1: 'Curtis Hill's accusers tell of anger, shame

Read part 3: Hill must go: 'When you shine a light on a predator you take their power away'

Indiana Rep. Mara Candelaria Reardon, one of Hill's accusers, calls their divergence in experiences "the special treatment of Curtis Hill."

"In the special prosecutor's report he talks about ... affording (Hill) the courtesy of his office," Reardon told me during a recent interview. "He lost that privilege when he put his hands on all of us. He lost that privilege of his office when he betrayed the public trust and when he put his hands on us."

Reardon first sparked an inquiry by leaders of the Indiana General Assembly after learning in April that Hill had touched three other women who attended a March party at AJ’s Lounge, a bar near Downtown. State lawmakers, staff members and lobbyists were celebrating the adjournment of the 2018 legislative session.

Multiple eyewitnesses provided statements that Hill’s conduct was inappropriate, 'creepy,' unwelcome and made many of the women at the party uncomfortable, according to an Inspector General's report released last month.

Reardon said Hill touched her back and groped her buttocks. Niki DaSilva, a legislative assistant for Senate Republicans, said Hill moved his hand down her back and forcefully grabbed her hand to grope her buttocks. While DaSilva was standing at the bar with Samantha Lozano, a legislative assistant for House Democrats, Hill allegedly told the women to "show a little skin" to get drinks. Lozano said Hill also made lewd remarks to her and inappropriately touched her. Gabrielle McLemore, communications director for Senate Democrats, said Hill intimately rubbed her back while she sat at the bar.

After Reardon informed legislative leaders of Hill's actions, the allegations were investigated and documented in a memo prepared by an outside law firm at the request of House Speaker Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis, and Senate President Pro Tempore David Long, R-Fort Wayne, who were concerned about liability.

In early July, after IndyStar reported on the leaked memo, Hill denied any wrongdoing. Still, Gov. Eric Holcomb, Bosma and Long demanded that Hill step down immediately. He refused. They also called for the state inspector general to investigate. A special prosecutor also was appointed in late July to anchor an independent criminal investigation.

DaSilva was asked to use human prop to show how she was touched

Hill's accusers were interviewed, sometimes twice, for both investigations over the summer. The combination of participants varied, but it typically included Indiana Inspector General Lori Torres, special prosecutor Daniel Sigler, a lead investigator from the inspector general's office, an Indianapolis police detective and a female attorney who was working with Sigler.

"It was very intimidating," DaSilva told me. "You have four people sitting across from you asking you questions, recording it, asking very detailed questions. I felt like I was doing pretty well until they asked me a question about when he put his hand on my back, 'Did you flinch? Did you move away from him? Well when he grabbed your arm did you try to pull your arm away? Did you give him any indication that this is not what you wanted?'

"Maybe the intention wasn’t for it to be victim blaming, but that’s how it felt to me in that moment," she said.

Last month, after a three-month investigation, special prosecutor Sigler announced that he would not issue criminal charges because he didn't believe he could prove Hill's intent, which is required for a conviction on a charge of simple battery. Still, Sigler said he found the women to be credible.

From July: DaSilva speaks out, saying ‘This is not a witch hunt’

DaSilva said when she met with the special prosecutor's team, she explained in detail how Hill had touched her. They then asked her to use a lawyer from the inspector general's office as a human prop to show how Hill touched her.

"They asked an attorney in the room who happened to be a female if she would stand up and allow me to demonstrate on her," DaSilva said. "And I did get up there with her and I had her place her arm behind her back like I had when I went to move away. But when they asked me to demonstrate how he grabbed it and how it touched my butt, I was not comfortable doing that.

"I was kind of shocked that they were asking me that and at the same time I did feel an obligation to comply, so that’s why I did get up. But then when they asked me to continue, 'Show us exactly how he did it,' I was like 'No, I’m not going to grope another person,'" DaSilva said. "That’s the whole reason we’re doing this is because somebody groped me. So now you want me to grope somebody else just to demonstrate? Had it been a dummy model of some sort that would be a different story. But to actually perform that same action on another person, particularly without their consent, I think is inappropriate."

Lozano was asked to draw a martini glass

Samantha Lozano had a similar experience. She was asked to demonstrate how Hill groped Reardon — an incident she witnessed as the two women entered AJ's together — and how the attorney general touched her later that night.

Lozano said she first met with IMPD detectives and an investigator from the inspector general's office. During a second interview, she said Sigler and another attorney questioned her. During that meeting, she was asked to recreate how Hill had touched people at AJ's.

New Indiana sexual harassment policy: Is it enough?

Change: Should AG be appointed instead of elected? Indiana Chamber says yes.

Lozano, crying as she described the experience to me, said she demonstrated on the female attorney because, "I always obey what my superiors tell me." She said she tried to mimic Hill's actions without really touching the other woman.

"I knew it was weird," Lozano said. "It was not something I was comfortable in doing but again, I was used to taking orders."

Lozano said she was especially offended that Hill was permitted to submit a video statement and not be forced to undergo the same scrutiny his alleged victims endured.

Lozano was asked what she witnessed Hill drinking that night. She told them he was drinking a martini. The investigators made her draw a picture of a martini glass, a request she described as belittling.

"He didn’t have to go through any of that stress," Lozano said. "He will never understand what I felt going through that process...He just doesn’t know this side at all and I don’t think he really cares."

'It was a very intimidating process'

When Reardon was contacted by the inspector general’s office, she initially set up a time to drive from Munster to Indianapolis to be interviewed. Her daughter had a college orientation scheduling conflict at the last minute, so investigators offered to travel to Munster. They told her to meet them at the Munster Police Department.

Reardon said she was greeted by IMPD detectives and investigators from the Inspector General's staff. Reardon isn't a prima donna — but she is an elected official. She also was the victim, not the person accused of a crime.

From July: Legislator speaks out about Hill for first time

As such, she should have been given the benefit of a conference room or an office. Instead, she was led to a small space that instantly made her uneasy.

"I was in a room essentially where they interview criminals, people that have committed crimes," Reardon said. "I don’t know if they regularly interview witnesses there or not but I know that the walls were carpeted and my statement was videotaped and audio recorded by two IMPD detectives with the inspector general, my husband and an investigator for the inspector general watching on closed circuit television. It was a very intimidating process."

'It’s not just a back rub'

Like the other accusers, Gabrielle McLemore found the investigation process to be intimidating. She was first called for an interview at the inspector general's office at the state library. She was afforded a conference room. Two IMPD detectives were present. She described them as friendly, but they made her uncomfortable.

"I went in there feeling very unprepared," she said. "I felt like I was being questioned as if I did something wrong whereas I was there to prove that someone else did something wrong. I was asked how much I had to drink that night. I was asked what I had to drink. I was asked what time I got there, what time I left. They were very specific, detailed questions. What time of the night he approached me? I didn’t look at my watch when he came up to me at the bar ... Some of those very specific questions were difficult to answer."

From July: McLemore speaks out, saying 'I will no longer be silent'

McLemore said she can't help but be disappointed by the outcome of both investigations. That Hill remains in office serves as proof that sexual harassment and misconduct among the elected and the elite are persistent and accepted in Indiana.

"I’m having to rewire my brain to say 'No, it’s not okay that it happens all the time.' That’s what makes it worse," McLemore said. "It’s not just a back rub; it’s not just that he grabbed someone’s butt — it’s bigger than that. And to exhibit a pattern of behavior over an entire night with colleagues that work in the same building as you, that is a problem."

It is a problem the Indiana General Assembly must address.

Editor's note: This is the second column in a three-part series featuring the four women who have accused Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill of groping and inappropriately touching them at a party in March.

Read part 1: 'Curtis Hill's accusers tell of anger, shame

Read part 3: Hill must go: 'When you shine a light on a predator you take their power away'

Email IndyStar columnist Suzette Hackney at suzette.hackney@indystar.com. Friend her on Facebook at Suzette Hackney and follow her on Twitter: @suzyscribe.

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