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Second Kentucky Legislator Accused of Sexual Harassment

Rep. Will Coursey / Courier-Journal
September 27, 2013

A second Kentucky legislator has been accused on sexual harassment, launching calls for an investigation into the Democratic House leadership.

Rep. Will Coursey (D.) is being accused of trying to date interns and making inappropriate remarks to staffers. An employee claims the House leadership had her transferred from Coursey’s office after she complained about his behavior.

The allegations come on top of sexual harassment complaints filed against Rep. John Arnold (D.), who is currently under investigation for harassing three staffers and inappropriately touching a female legislator.

According to the Courier-Journal:

A Kentucky legislator is calling for an investigation of Speaker Greg Stumbo and other Democratic House leaders after a legislative employee said Stumbo’s office ordered her transfer to another job after she complained that a legislator was sexually harassing interns. […]

Legislative Research Commission employee Nicole Cusic said in a Courier-Journal interview that after she complained to state Rep. Will Coursey about his behavior last year — alleging he tried to date interns and made inappropriate statements about another staff member — LRC officials moved her out of a suite of offices where Coursey worked.

Sen. Kathy Stein (D.) is calling for an investigation into Stumbo.

"Of course, it needs to be investigated because the whole climate there is just ripe with the smell of bad things," she said.