TheStatehouseFile.com
 INDIANAPOLIS- Attorney General Curtis Hill Jr., facing Indiana Supreme Court disciplinary commission charges for allegedly groping women, is trying to block the testimony of two women who worked for him when he was Elkhart County prosecutor.
Retired Supreme Court Justice Myra Selby, who will preside over Hill’s hearing starting Monday, has not yet ruled on whether the witnesses will be allowed to testify.
On Wednesday, Selby met with the attorneys for both Hill and the disciplinary commission to iron out details in advance of the hearing. Hill, a Republican in his first term as attorney general, will be fighting for his political and professional life in the hearing looking into misconduct charges stemming from an end-of-session legislative party in early 2018.
At that party, held at an Indianapolis bar, Hill allegedly touched the backs or buttocks of State Rep. Mara Candelaria Reardon, D-Munster, and three legislative staffers, Niki DaSilva, Samantha Lozano, and Gabrielle McLemore.
The women came forward with the accusations in June 2018. Many high-ranking officials in both parties, including legislative leaders and Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb, called for Hill’s resignation.
Hill has refused to step down and has denied groping the women. He attributed any behavior from him at the party to have had a few drinks – three glasses of wine, a martini and a shot of Fireball Cinnamon Whisky – and his friendly attitude.
In one court filing, his attorneys said Hill “has an engaging personality and often physically interacts with others by placing a hand on the other person’s arm, shoulder or back. He also has some difficulty hearing in one ear, so he is prone to leaning close to people with whom he is conversing, especially in loud environments.â€
In October 2018, a special prosecutor appointed to investigate the accusations decided against filing criminal charges against Hill. A legislative investigation found lawmakers could take no action because Hill was not the women’s boss and it happened on private property. Also, an inspector general’s report found that Hill’s conduct at the event was well-documented and inappropriate and then closed the case.
However, in March 2019, a complaint against Hill was filed by the Supreme Court’s disciplinary commission saying his actions amounted to a battery, a misdemeanor, and sexual battery, a felony, and constituted professional misconduct. That was followed by a civil lawsuit filed by the four women against Hill.
The disciplinary commission hearing is expected to last through next week in the Supreme Court chambers in the Indiana Statehouse. If Selby finds he committed professional misconduct, his punishment could cost him his license to practice law. That would effectively remove him as the attorney general since the position requires the person holding it to have an active license.
During the pre-trial meeting, Hill’s lead attorney, Donald Lundberg, disputed Selby’s decision to grant the commission’s request to use communications between Hill and two of his top aides, Chief Deputy Aaron Negangard and Chief of Staff Mary Beth Bonaventura, with the exception of one text from Bonaventura. Lundberg cited the impact that would have on the civil lawsuit. Selby gave him until noon Thursday to file a written motion renewing his objections.
The commission also wants to present testimony from two women who previously worked with Hill when he was a prosecutor in Elkhart County. Hill’s attorneys are arguing that past alleged actions should not come into play during this hearing.
However, the lawyers for the disciplinary commission argued in a filing that “evidence of prior inappropriate sexual behavior at (Hill’s) workplace will show that the Sine Die party was not just an isolated event unfortunately caused by a relaxed social atmosphere and too much to drink.â€
Selby indicated she would rule on whether those and other witnesses can testify during the course of the hearing.
Seth Pruden, staff attorney for the disciplinary commission, told Selby he expected to have about 15 witnesses testify, along with video and audio exhibits. Lundberg said Hill will present five to 10 witnesses.
FOOTNOTE: Brandon Barger is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalists.
