There was another call for embattled state Rep. Daniel Grossberg, D-Louisville, to resign his House seat on Wednesday afternoon amid allegations of sexual harassment, this time from the Senate Democratic Caucus.
In a statement released by Senate Democratic Leadership, they said, “As public officials, we must uphold the highest standards of conduct and integrity. The recent allegations involving Rep. Daniel Grossberg are deeply troubling. No one should be subject to harassment or intimidation in any setting. Given the seriousness of these accusations, we call on Rep. Grossberg to relinquish his seat immediately.
“The Senate Democratic caucus remains committed to the principles of respect, accountability, and justice in our efforts.”
Grossberg was suspended from the House Democratic caucus and removed from his interim committee assignments after allegations arose this summer that the Louisville lawmaker had engaged in inappropriate conduct. Interim committee meetings allow lawmakers to review issues and hear from stakeholders ahead of the next legislative session that begins in January. Grossberg’s Democratic House colleagues also requested that the Legislative Ethics Commission investigate the allegations against him.
Gov. Andy Beshear, Kentucky’s top Democrat has called for Grossberg top step aside, saying just last Friday, “Nobody should face harassment, in their place of work, in the Capitol, anywhere across the commonwealth. And when it appears a state representative is engaging in that behavior and that type of conduct, we just need to speak in one clear voice that it’s unacceptable.”
Beshear’s comments followed media reports that Grossberg was banned from a Louisville strip club for allegedly offering one of the dancers $5,000 to have sex with him, about two weeks before he was banned for life for inappropriately touching another club dancer.
The Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission is conducting an investigation into the allegations.
Grossberg and his attorney have steadfastly denied he engaged in any impropriety or abuse of power. The lawmaker narrowly won his spring primary and is unopposed in the November election.
(Photo: State Rep. Daniel Grossberg, D-Louisville)
The Associated Press
