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The Indiana Senate Democratic caucus on Monday reelected its leader, Sen. Greg Taylor of Indianapolis—just hours after The Indianapolis Star reported three women have accused Taylor of sexual harassment.
The allegations of unwanted physical contact and romantic pursuit of an intern cover eight years. In the article, Taylor did not deny the harassment. Instead, he apologized for past behavior that “may have blurred the lines.”
Taylor has led his caucus since 2022 and has represented District 33 since 2008. But he’s come under fire before for his comments, including during 2018 discussion of child molestation legislation.
The caucus’ 10 members met for hours behind closed doors Monday.
Some briefly left, but were sparing in their comments to reporters. Asked how discussions were going about 10:30 a.m., Sen. Andrea Hunley, replied, “It’s a Monday!”
Hunley in August critiqued Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett’s administration for its handling of sexual assault allegations, and took aim at the Indiana Democratic Party.
“While so far, one person formerly in a leadership position under Mayor Joe Hogsett has been identified as a perpetrator of sexual harassment and assault, the failures have been systemic and continue to be systemic,” she said, in a video posted to her Instagram account.
At least one other member of her caucus has also faced an accusation of sexual harassment.
In an opinion column, The Indianapolis Star revealed evidence that Sen. David Niezgodski, D-South Bend, harassed a young, female former employee: at the office, in voicemails, over texts, and even showed up to her home. His company settled with the former employee for $8,000, according to the Star.
Accusations have crossed party lines.
The Indiana Supreme Court suspended former Republican Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill’s law license for 30 days after finding he committed criminal battery when he groped four women, including a legislator, during a party at an Indianapolis bar in 2018. GOP Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales in 2022 faced decade-old allegations of sexual assaults in interview transcripts published by political columnist Abdul-Hakim Shabazz.
The caucus also chose Hunley as assistant leader, replacing Sen. Shelli Yoder, D-Bloomington. And they elected a new caucus chair: Sen. Rodney Pol, D-Chesterton, replacing Sen. J.D. Ford, D-Indianapolis.
Two new faces are joining the caucus: Sen. La Keisha Jackson, D-Indianapolis, who was elected after finishing out the late Sen. Jean Breaux’s final term. Gary Councilman-At-Large Mark Spencer is expected to be sworn in Tuesday, during the ceremonial start to the session.
The Indiana Capital Chronicle is an independent, nonprofit news organization that covers state government, policy and elections.
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Shame on the Indiana Democrats for this.
Yes, sexual harassment should be disqualifying for all elected officials regardless of level or party.
IBJ will you be re-interviewing Kip Tew? Some of us are mystified that his party thinks this guy is a leader.
Meanwhile, over on the Republican side, President-elect Trump, found liable for sexual molestation of a woman, and with a history of allegations regarding sexual harrasment of other women, goes about staffing his new adminstration with with a nominee for Secretary of Defense who denied sexual harrassment, but paid damages anyway…cause, you know, he didn’t really mean anything by his conduct…
and the nominee for AG of the US accepted the offer to be the next US AG, and promptly resigned his Congressional seat before the House Ethics Committee could release its report scheduled for two days later regarding the nominee/ex-Congressman arising from allegations of sex with underaged women and drug usage.
and back in Indiana, Todd Rokita works on his plans for the next term while the Supreme Court weighs, now that the election is over, whether to commence disciplinary charges against Rokita for publicly denying the agreed compromise over his discipline for improper condut immediately after the 30 day suspension was announced. Apparently the Court, composed entirely of Republicans, lacked the judicial backbone or sense of judicial propriety to suspend or disbar the Republican candidate for AG for an offense which surely would have seen any other Indiana lawyer suspended or disbarred in a heart beat…
Shame on the Democrats for their conduct today; but shame on Republican voters who in any fashion try to make anything of this. You Republicans just voted in the biggest sexual harrasser to occupy the White House since Lyndon Johnson…
I realize that this behavior is in no way confined to the halls of government, but with 340 million people in this country, why is it so hard to find, in either party, people who are decent and competent?? No wonder the electorate is disengaged!!