Special Prosecutor Won't Charge Ind. AG Hill; Says Groping Allegations Too Difficult To Prove

Tuesday, October 23, 2018 at 12:27 PM

By Mike Perleberg @mikedup84

No criminal charges will be filed against Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill, a special prosecutor announced Tuesday.

Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill

(Indianapolis, Ind.) - There will be no criminal charges filed against Republican Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill for allegedly groping women as he was drunk.

A special prosecutor assigned to the case, Dan Sigler, made that announcement Tuesday morning in Indianapolis, saying it would be a tough case to prove.

Democratic State Rep. Mara Candelaria Reardon and three legislative staffers made the claims that Hill drunkenly groped them at a gathering at a bar near the Indiana Statehouse. It was after the final night of the 2018 Indiana Legislative Session.

Three of the women made their stories public after The Indianapolis Star ran a story in July about a memo resulting from an independent counsel investigation into the allegations against Hill.

Sigler said his decision was primarily whether to charge Hill with battery.

“You have to prove the intent of the person charged. What was in the person’s mind? I did not feel I could prove the intent of Curtis Hill to be rude, insolent or angry,” explained Sigler.

Sigler said he believes the women, adding “From Hill's statement, he does not deny touching... but there's disagreement about the extent of it.”

Sigler says he did not interview Hill, but he did review a video statement.

Hill has denied the allegations and has resisted calls for his resignation, even those from Governor Eric Holcomb and other top Republicans.

Hill was elected to a four-year term in 2016. Because he won’t face criminal charges, impeachment could be difficult.

Indiana’ constitution allows for a “state officer” to be removed from office “for crime, incapacity or negligence.” That would have to be determined by “impeachment by the House of Representatives, to be tried by the Senate” or a “joint resolution of the General Assembly” with two thirds voting in favor.

However, the position of attorney general is not listed in the state constitution as a “state officer.”

Indiana Democratic Party Chairman John Zody says Hill should still resign despite the special prosecutor declining to file charges.

“I believe the women and believe Governor Holcomb’s statement in July, that there was ‘no other option’ but for Attorney General Hill to resign, is as appropriate today as it was then. Elected officials must be held to a higher standard and Hill’s actions are disqualifying at any level, let alone as the state’s top law enforcement officer. I am hopeful Governor Holcomb will echo his words from July and reaffirm his call for Hill to step aside. Any other action from the governor will serve to underscore a brewing culture of cronyism and corruption at the Statehouse,” said Zody.

Holcomb has not commented on the special prosecutor’s announcement.

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