Republican Leader Attacks Lies From 'Deepest Pit of Hell'

Jeff Hoover resigned as the speaker of the Kentucky House of Representatives following sexual harassment allegations
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Jan 8, 2018 4:50 PM CST
Kentucky Republican Leader Resigns After Sex Scandal
Jeff Hoover   (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley, File)

The Republican speaker of Kentucky's House of Representatives resigned from his leadership position Monday, more than two months after acknowledging he secretly settled a sexual harassment claim and paid to keep it quiet. Jeff Hoover offered Monday to resign, but only if the House would accept. Moments later Speaker Pro Tem David Osborne ruled his resignation had been accepted. In a blistering speech on the House floor, before stepping down, Hoover denounced his critics—including Republican Gov. Matt Bevin—for telling what he called lies from the "deepest pit of Hell." But Hoover said he didn't want to be a distraction for the House. While he will no longer lead the House, Hoover will remain one of its members.

Hoover denied sexual harassment, but said he sent inappropriate but consensual text messages to a woman who once worked for the House Republican Caucus. The settlement signed by Hoover and three other Republican lawmakers was handled outside of court and paid for with private money to avoid publicity. But the Courier Journal exposed it, creating an uproar in a state that was transitioning to Republican rule after decades of dominance by Democrats. Eight Republican lawmakers filed formal disciplinary charges against Hoover, alleging he sexually harassed a woman in his office and then used taxpayer resources to cover it up. They asked a special committee to recommend expelling Hoover from the House.

(More Kentucky stories.)

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