FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - The Latest on allegations that Kentucky’s Republican House Speaker Jeff Hoover settled a sexual harassment claim with a staffer (all times local):
7:30 p.m.
A Kentucky Republican lawmaker says the state’s House speaker does not have the full support of the GOP caucus after a report that he settled a sexual harassment claim with one of his staffers.
House Majority Floor Leader Jonathan Shell told reporters that Speaker Jeff Hoover has the full support of the Republican caucus.
But Republican state Rep. Wesley Morgan said that was not true. Morgan said lawmakers were told during a three-hour caucus meeting that they could not remove Hoover as speaker because he is a constitutional officer. Morgan said the only option was for Hoover to resign or be impeached.
Morgan said he was not calling for Hoover’s impeachment but said he cannot “condone, under any circumstances, the way he has conducted himself.”
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4:30 p.m.
The No. 2 ranking Republican in the Kentucky House of Representatives says Speaker Jeff Hoover has the full support of the caucus despite a report that he settled a sexual harassment claim with one of his staffers.
The 64-member House Republican Caucus met privately for several hours Friday afternoon to discuss the issue. House Majority Floor Leader Jonathan Shell told reporters Hoover called the report “rumor and allegation” and said Hoover “has the full support of this caucus right now.”
Hoover did not speak with reporters after the meeting. But earlier in the day, he told reporters he would not resign his leadership post. He has refused to comment on the report from The Courier-Journal that he settled a sexual harassment claim outside of court with one of his female staffers.
11:45 a.m.
Kentucky’s Republican House Speaker Jeff Hoover declared Friday that he will not give up his leadership post over reports that he settled a sexual harassment claim with one of his staffers.
Hoover declined to discuss the allegations at a health care conference where he was speaking Friday morning but said he would “absolutely not” resign. His fellow Republicans in the state House of Representatives still plan to meet later Friday to discuss his future.
The Courier-Journal published a report Thursday evening based on anonymous sources that Hoover had settled the complaint outside of court. Others with knowledge of the incident also declined to comment.
The revelation comes as Hoover is trying to muster enough votes in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives to pass a bill that would make substantial changes to the state’s public pension system. Republican state Rep. Phil Moffett said the allegation “calls everything into question.”
10:30 a.m.
Kentucky’s Republican House Speaker Jeff Hoover has declined to comment on media reports that he settled a sexual harassment claim with one of his staffers.
Hoover declined to discuss the allegations at a health care conference where he was speaking Friday morning, just hours before his fellow Republicans in the state House of Representatives plan to meet to discuss his future.
The Courier-Journal published a report Thursday evening based on anonymous sources that Hoover had settled the complaint outside of court. Hoover would neither confirm nor deny the existence of a settlement. Others with knowledge of the incident also declined to comment.
The revelation comes as Hoover is trying to muster enough votes in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives to pass a bill that would make substantial changes to the state’s public pension system. Republican state Rep. Phil Moffett said the allegation “calls everything into question.”
6:45 p.m.
Kentucky’s House Republicans will meet privately to discuss the future of House Speaker Jeff Hoover after the state’s largest newspaper reported that the GOP leader settled a sexual harassment claim by a member of his staff outside of court.
The Courier-Journal reported those allegations Thursday evening based on anonymous sources. The Associated Press has not been able to confirm those details. A spokesman for Hoover did not return calls seeking comment. Others with knowledge of the incident also declined to comment.
The revelation comes as Hoover is trying to muster enough votes in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives to pass a bill that would make substantial changes to the state’s public pension system. Republican state Rep. Phil Moffett said the allegation “calls everything into question.”
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