August 21, 2019

New Allegations In Lawsuit Over Curtis Hill Groping Accusations

Article origination IPBS-RJC
From left, Niki DaSilva, Gabrielle McLemore, Rep. Mara Candelaria Reardon (D-Munster) and Samantha Lozano at a press conference in June.  - Brandon Smith/IPB News

From left, Niki DaSilva, Gabrielle McLemore, Rep. Mara Candelaria Reardon (D-Munster) and Samantha Lozano at a press conference in June.

Brandon Smith/IPB News

There are new allegations from the women suing Attorney General Curtis Hill and the state over accusations Hill groped them last year.

Three legislative staffers – Samantha Lozano, Gabrielle McLemore, and Niki DaSilva – and Rep. Mara Candelaria Reardon (D-Munster) sued Curtis Hill and the state earlier this year. They level allegations of sexual harassment and employment retaliation.

A new filing in that case claims Lozano reported “unwelcome and inappropriate advances” by a male member of the General Assembly to the House Democratic chief of staff this past spring.

All three staffers say they were each approached in the last couple of months by senior legislative staff who pressured them to talk about the ongoing lawsuit - without their attorneys present. McLemore and DaSilva both say when they questioned that, they were told their lawyers didn’t need to be there.

Spokespeople for the House Democratic and Republican caucuses, as well as the Senate Republican caucus, all declined to comment.

Contact Brandon at bsmith@ipbs.org or follow him on Twitter at @brandonjsmith5

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