State Senator Rodney Pol, D-Chesterton, chose not to vote for State Senator Greg Taylor as Senate Minority Leader amid reports of sexual harassment allegations against Taylor. The allegations, reported by the Indianapolis Star, involved three women accusing Taylor of sexual harassment since 2008. Despite this, Taylor was reelected as leader of the Senate Democratic caucus, along with Senator Andrea Hunley as assistant minority leader and Pol as caucus chair.
Pol expressed his belief that it was time for the caucus to move in a new direction and that Hunley would have been a strong, education-focused leader. In a joint statement with Hunley, Pol emphasized that sexual harassment, particularly by those in positions of public trust, is unacceptable. They vowed to work towards creating lasting reform within the caucus.
Senator Lonnie Randolph, D-East Chicago, stated he was unaware of the sexual harassment allegations against Taylor and declined to comment on the issue. House Democratic Leader Rep. Phil GiaQuinta condemned sexual harassment regardless of the accused’s political affiliation and emphasized the importance of providing a safe space for reporting such incidents.
House Democratic caucus chair Rep. Carey Hamilton expressed a commitment to ensuring a respectful and accountable workplace within the legislature. While both the House and Senate have harassment training and policies, Hamilton suggested examining if improvements could be made to the harassment reporting system. It is essential to maintain a workplace where individuals can serve with integrity and dedication.
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