INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed against Indiana's attorney general by four women who say he drunkenly groped them during a party.
Republican Attorney General Curtis Hill has denied the allegations and his lawyers argued the women didn't have a valid case for sexual harassment under federal law because they all worked for state government's legislative branch while Hill is an elected officer of the executive branch. Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson wrote in Monday's ruling that the women described "disgraceful and reprehensible conduct" but the allegations didn't meet the legal standard to establish a violation of federal law.
Hill said in a statement that he was grateful for the ruling and looked forward to continuing as attorney general.
Angela Tuell, who is representing Hill's alleged victims, said attorneys "understand there are a wide range of opinions on the ramifications and legal significance of Curtis Hill's actions. Unlike situations such as Harvey Weinstein, Attorney General Hill's 'reprehensible' conduct at the Sine Die event, and his and the State of Indiana’s behavior in the days and months thereafter, may not fall within traditional fact patterns found in Federal cases focusing on Title VII and Section 1983 claims."
Tuell said the women's attorneys disagree with the Court's decision, but the order made some things about the incident clear:
"Hill's behavior that night towards these four women was unacceptable, that these women have claims they are entitled to bring in multiple forums available to them, including Federal and state courts here in Indiana, and that their pursuit of remedies and justice may and will continue forward."
