INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Senate Minority Leader Greg Taylor (D-District 33) skipped an appearance at an event for the Indiana Chamber of Commerce on the same day the IndyStar reported multiple sexual harassment claims against him.
On Monday, Nov. 18, Taylor was scheduled to speak at an event where the chamber outlined its desires for this year's legislative session.
Indiana Speaker of the House Todd Huston acknowledged the claims against Taylor when speaking to reporters after the chamber event. Huston said he had not read the article but was familiar with the headline.
"I am 100% concerned about any allegations of (sexual harassment)," Huston said. "We have so many incredible young women working at the Indiana General Assembly, which I'm so grateful and thankful for. I certainly want it to be a great place for them to work."
Huston was asked if the Statehouse was a safe place for young women to work.
"I sure hope so," Huston said. "And we work every day to make sure it is."
Taylor represents Indiana Senate District 33 and won reelection earlier this month after running unopposed. District 33 covers an area northwest of downtown Indianapolis stretching from Herron Morton to the southeast to the southern edge of Eagle Creek Park in the northwest.
Taylor has represented the area since 2008.
Indiana Democrats reelected Taylor as Senate minority leader on Monday, Nov. 18.
Taylor released the following statement in response to allegations of sexual harassment made against him:
"As an elected official, I am responsible for maintaining high professionalism and respecting the boundaries of all I engage with. While this has always been my goal, there have been times when I may have blurred the lines and behaved in a manner that potentially made my colleagues or those who witnessed my actions uncomfortable. While it was never my intent to cause harm, I acknowledge that I have fallen short, and for this, I apologize.
When I became a leader, I made gender equity a priority in my hiring decisions. I placed women in key positions of authority, including executive director of campaigns and caucus chief of staff. Additionally, I supported critical legislation for women, including but not limited to accommodations in the workplace, women’s health, and support of the pink tax.
Our Senate Democratic caucus has always been and will remain committed to creating a welcoming environment and ensuring everyone, from interns to elected officials, feels safe and free from harassment. Since the beginning of the summer, we have been evaluating all our policies, including those regarding sexual harassment. Because we want to ensure our employees are protected and have pathways for reporting concerns without fear of retribution, the Senate Democratic caucus is currently developing a manual that will be distributed to all staff to protect further those who serve and to hold one another accountable."
Reaction from lawmakers
Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray, R-Martinsville, sent the following statement:
"The Indiana Senate serves the people of the state of Indiana, and as such, we must hold ourselves to a high standard of conduct and foster a safe and positive work environment. It is extremely disappointing when a member's actions fall short of that standard.
"The safety of our personnel and senators is of utmost importance. Senate policies make clear that allegations of harassment are to be taken seriously and thoroughly investigated."
The Indiana Senate Democrat Caucus has released the following statement "on recent sexual harassment allegations:"
"The Indiana Senate Democratic Caucus is deeply troubled by the recent allegations of sexual harassment involving a member of the legislature. First and foremost, we want to sincerely apologize—to former staffers, interns and anyone else who has been affected by the culture of misconduct that has persisted within the Statehouse. We are also deeply sorry for the distraction this has caused from the important work we are elected to do on behalf of Hoosiers.
It is unacceptable for anyone to experience harassment or exploitation, and it is especially egregious when it involves those in positions of public trust. As legislators, we are charged with upholding the highest ethical standards, and when those standards are violated, it undermines the integrity of our entire institution.
We recognize that there has been a culture in the Statehouse that allowed such behavior to persist. While we cannot undo the harm caused in the past, we are determined to move forward and build a future where this is no longer the case. This begins with acknowledging the systemic failures that have perpetuated these issues and committing ourselves to meaningful, lasting reform.
Although reporting to a supervisor is an option for addressing misconduct, the Ethics Committee serves as the primary mechanism for legislative accountability under current Senate rules. However, its structure—comprised solely of legislative peers—makes it inherently flawed and undermines the fairness and transparency needed to address these issues effectively.
The expectation that someone would detail their experiences of harassment to a body dominated by colleagues of the accused is an untenable and unfair burden.
Reform is non-negotiable. We are proposing immediate changes to the ethics process to ensure independence, transparency and fairness.
This is not just about improving processes or updating policies—it is about fundamental values. It is about recognizing that public servants have a duty to lead by example and create an environment that reflects respect, integrity and accountability. Harassment, exploitation and misconduct have no place in the Statehouse, and we must work together—across party lines—to ensure they are rooted out.
Together, we must create a workplace where consent is respected, power is not abused and every individual feels safe and valued."
State Sen. Andrea Hunley (D-District 46) posted a statement on Instagram Monday evening, saying she ran for the leadership role, but lost. She was elected to and accepted the position of assistant minority leader.
In the video, Hunley said, "I'm committed to ensuring that changes are made and that Leader Taylor is held accountable."
Taylor's counterpart in the House, Democratic Leader Phil GiaQuinta, released the following statement:
“As Indiana House Democratic Leader, I strongly condemn sexual harassment, no matter who it comes from. I cannot ignore this principle simply because a Statehouse Democrat has been accused of sexual harassment.
“Indiana House Democrats successfully offered a 2018 amendment that resulted in a law to require annual sexual harassment prevention training for lawmakers and institute a House rule on the complaint process to properly investigate and hold lawmakers accountable when and if sexual harassment has occurred. It’s important to me that complaints are taken seriously. I’m glad the House has a reporting mechanism so victims and witnesses can come forward and feel safe to do so.
“Finally, I want to remind all House employees that if something happened that you feel is worth reporting, our Ethics rules and the House’s personnel handbook provide for a confidential investigation process and guarantee protection from retaliation.”
In response to questions, Indiana Democratic spokesperson Sam Barloga released the following statement:
“Harassment of any form is unacceptable. Everyone deserves to be in a workplace that is safe, free from harassment, and respects the dignity of every employee, especially those working in public service. Our lawmakers are working to address these issues so there are more protections that prevent harassment and that anyone can come forward without fear of retaliation. We urge lawmakers of both parties to follow the same rules that Hoosiers do at their workplaces and respect the public’s trust that is placed with them.”
Destiny Wells, who lost the race for Indiana Attorney General, posted about the allegations on social media:
(Editor's Note: This story has been updated to correct that Sen. Andrea Hunley was elected assistant minority leader, not assistant majority leader, as previously reported.)