Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill rejects calls for resignation as a result of groping allegations

The Attorney General of Indiana, Curtis Hill, said Friday It will not resign amid growing pressure from officials following allegations that it has filed a complaint against four women, including a member of Parliament, in March.

In a statement, Hill said he was not resigning. "Vicious and false."

"At no time did I catch or touch anyone inappropriately," Hill said. "The lack of equity and the refusal to recognize my constitutional rights are a complete travesty."

Hill's statement came hours after a state legislator became public with allegations of misconduct against him.

State Representative Mara Candelaria Reardon (D) was one of many women who had previously spoken to investigators about alleged inappropriate behavior of Hill at a party marking the end of the legislative session. The details of the investigation, which was launched by state legislative leaders and conducted by a private law firm, were leaked to local media earlier this week, although none of the accusers has been named.

The Times of Northwest Indiana's website, Candelaria Reardon, said Hill, a Republican, had pelted her at the party on March 15th.

"While we were exchanging pleasantries, Curtis Hill leaned over to me as he did not hear me … put his hand on my back and slid his hand toward my bad and licked me. caught, "wrote Candelaria Reardon. "I told him to back off and I left, the staff member with me was shocked."

She said that later in the evening, Hill approached her from behind, again put her hand on his back and told him: skin. The MP said that she pulled back before Hill could catch her bad again.

The Indianapolis Star reported Monday that according to a memo prepared by the law firm, four women had accused Hill of groping them by groping. celebration. In addition to Candelaria Reardon, a member of the Legislative Staff said Hill slipped her hand behind her back and groped her bad even after she tried to pull her hand away. One staff member said Hill had rubbed it for two minutes, making it uncomfortable, while another said that Hill had put his arm around his waist and tightened it in his arm until it moved away

Journal of the time that "the case was dealt with the Attorney General to the satisfaction of the employees involved." [19659012] Yet, one of the accusers told the newspaper that she was disappointed that it seemed that no action had been taken to officially sanction Hill

Among those who now claim Hill's resignation are three of the best Republicans in the state. In statements Thursday night, Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb, House Speaker Brian Bosma and Senate Leader David Long urged Hill to resign and called for an Inspector General's investigation into his behavior

. why legislative leaders waited Thursday – seven weeks after the initial allegations and more than two weeks after receiving the note.

In his statement Friday, Hill called for an independent investigation by the Marion County Attorney's Office, rather than by the state's Inspector General Lori Torres, whose office said that He would conduct a "full and fair" investigation into Hill's behavior

Hill argued that any investigation by the Inspector General's office would be "prejudicial" since Torres was appointed by Holcomb, who called for Hill's resignation.

The Black Legislative Caucus of Indiana called on Hill to apologize and resign, declaring in a statement that Hill is an African-American

Several State democrats also urged Hill to resign.

In her letter, Candelaria Reardon wrote that she had originally planned to approach Hill privately to discuss his behavior, but later decided to report the case to the di after hearing that Hill would have tried other women at the party.

"I realized that she was taller than I. She also called on leaders in the House to" create a method by which deviant behavior is held accountable, regardless of the title of the the author "."