Louisville Democratic Party latest to call on Rep. Daniel Grossberg to resign
The Louisville Democratic Party has joined the chorus of officials and organizations from Rep. Daniel Grossberg’s own party calling on him to resign.
In a statement released Thursday morning, the local party’s executive committee reported that they voted to call on his resignation Wednesday evening. The vote came less than a week after reporting from the Herald-Leader revealed that Grossberg had been permanently banned from a Louisville strip club for groping a dancer on stage; he also faces allegations from multiple employees at the club that he tried to solicit another dancer for prostitution and threatened to use his office to retaliate against the establishment after being kicked out.
“It is imperative that we create a culture that prioritizes respect and dignity for all, especially in our political institutions. The pattern of harassment and other inappropriate behavior is unacceptable and undermines the trust and integrity that are essential in public service. Every individual deserves to work and live in an environment free from intimidation and harassment, regardless of their position or identity,” the committee wrote in a statement posted to X, formerly Twitter.
Prior to last week’s story about the strip club ban, the Herald-Leader has also reported on the adverse experiences six women, all anonymous at the time, had with the Louisville legislator. Many of those women went public in the aftermath of Friday’s events, including all three women who alleged various forms of sexual harassment in an Aug. 20 story.
Grossberg’s own local party joins the state’s most powerful Democrats — Gov. Andy Beshear, the chair and executive committee of the Kentucky Democratic Party, Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman and U.S. Rep. Morgan McGarvey, among others — in asking Grossberg to step down.
The 45-year-old lawmaker has not signaled any intention to resign.
In response to the recent Herald-Leader report, Grossberg has denied soliciting prostitution from anyone and said he hasn’t used his office to gain advantage.
However, Grossberg told News Radio 840 WHAS in Louisville that he is seeking treatment for his behavior.
“I apologize to anyone who I have made uncomfortable,” he said in a statement. “Their voices deserve to be heard. Similarly, I deserve due process so that I can respond to these allegations in the appropriate venue. I look forward to doing so, under oath, during the legislative ethics inquiry.”
He added that he is “in treatment to help reduce my impulsive behavior going forward — and I will keep my head down and continue working to serve my constituents.”
This story was originally published September 26, 2024 at 12:23 PM.
