Amid allegations of inappropriate behavior against Louisville State Rep. Daniel Grossberg, the Louisville Democratic Party Executive Committee has asked him to refrain from attending events until the Frankfort investigation is resolved.
“Our commitment to creating a safe and respectful environment for all remains unwavering,” the party said in a statement Thursday morning. “We believe every individual deserves an environment free of harassment and we will work resolutely to ensure this standard is met.”
“While we understand that the allegations against Rep. Grossberg are merely allegations at this time, we ask that she temporarily refrain from attending LDP events and meetings while the Legislative Ethics Committee's investigation is ongoing,” the statement said.
Louisville Democratic Party Chairman Logan Gatti said Thursday that the statement was “enough” and declined further comment.
Grossberg, a Democrat from Louisville who represents the 30th House District, is completing his first term in Frankfort and will run unopposed in November's general election after winning the May primary. He is one of 20 Democrats in the Kentucky House of Representatives' 100 members.
The Legislature's administrative and research arm, the LRC, has not publicly acknowledged the investigation or responded to public records requests, but the Lexington Herald-Leader spoke with unidentified women who accused Grossberg of sending them inappropriate text messages and, on one occasion, drinking with them in his office and questioning women who were present about their sex lives. Grossberg was previously expelled from the House Democratic caucus and removed from his interim committee assignments by party leaders.
Grossberg's lawyer, Anna White, has disputed the allegations and said Grossberg has no plans to resign. In an open letter two weeks ago, she said the text messages she reviewed “did not amount to sexual harassment” and that Grossberg had not crossed any other ethical boundaries.
Reached Thursday morning, White said Grossberg has not attended any Louisville Democratic Party events since the allegations emerged in late July, and in a statement from party leaders he thanked the party for “being considerate to all parties in this matter.”
“Until the Ethics Commission completes its investigation, I will remain focused on serving my constituents,” the statement said.
Grossberg has faced calls for his resignation from numerous party members and groups, including the Kentucky Democratic Party Youth Division, which said in a statement earlier this month that “several members” also experienced “inappropriate behavior” by Grossberg.
This story may be updated.
Lucas Aulbach can be reached at laulbach@courier-journal.com.