Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

New Allegations In Lawsuit Over Curtis Hill Groping Accusations

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.

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

Brandon Smith has covered the Statehouse for Indiana Public Broadcasting for more than a decade, spanning three governors and a dozen legislative sessions. He's also the host of Indiana Week in Review, a weekly political and policy discussion program seen and heard across the state.
Support independent journalism today. You rely on WFYI to stay informed, and we depend on you to make our work possible. Donate to power our nonprofit reporting today. Give now.