Hill: ‘I Am Not Resigning’ Amid Harassment Claims
Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowIndiana Attorney General Curtis Hill says he will not resign amid allegations of sexual improprieties against a state legislator and several legislative staffers. In a statement released Friday, Hill called for an independent investigation by the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office into the allegations. Political leaders on both sides of the aisle, including Governor Eric Holcomb, House Speaker Brian Bosma (R-88) and House Minority Leader Terry Goodin (D-66) have called on Hill to resign.
Hill calls the allegations "vicious and false" and says he has not received due process in the case. The Indiana Inspector General’s office is conducting an investigation into the matter at the request of Holcomb. Hill responded by saying, "The fact that the Governor, who appoints the Inspector General, has already determined the outcome of the investigation eliminates the ability of the Inspector General to conduct a fair and independent investigation."
Hill’s statement came hours after State Representative Mara Candelaria Reardon (D-12) accused Hill of sexual battery in an op-ed piece for our partners at The Times of Northwest Indiana. Reardon said the alleged incident took place in March at gathering of lawmakers, staff and others marking the end of this year’s legislative session. She said alleged sexual harassment of the other legislative staffers also took place at the event.
"I realized that this was bigger than me, and I had an obligation to report it to our House leadership, to protect these women and any others, from Curtis Hill’s deviant conduct," Reardon said. "These young women came to Indianapolis to be mentored and taught professional conduct, not to be assaulted."
You can read Hill’s full statement below:
I now stand falsely accused of some of the same crimes I spent 28 years prosecuting. Yet without a thorough investigation — without the right to face my accusers and review the evidence against me — I am convicted by public officials demanding my resignation. I believed that the standard in this country is that you are innocent until proven guilty — not guilty until proven innocent.
I am not resigning. The allegations against me are vicious and false. At no time did I ever grab or touch anyone inappropriately. The lack of fairness and the failure to recognize my constitutional rights are a complete travesty.
Elected officials have called for my resignation without affording me any due process or conducting an actual, fair and independent investigation.
The fact that the Governor, who appoints the Inspector General, has already determined the outcome of the investigation eliminates the ability of the Inspector General to conduct a fair and independent investigation.
This fundamental lack of fairness and due process regarding this prejudicial so-called ‘investigation’ is in violation of the principles on which this country was founded.
I demand an independent investigation by the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office, where my constitutional rights are respected and protected. Once the investigation is complete and I am exonerated, I would hope that my good name is properly restored with the same vigor with which it has been tarnished.