Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President R. Albert Mohler Jr. said Bevin’s “moral clarity and candor on this issue stands out not only in the state of Kentucky but, frankly, in the entire national conversation for the fact that it is so laser-like.”
Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin, an evangelical Christian, drew high praises from the evangelical community this week for calling on state lawmakers who settled sexual harassment lawsuits to resign.
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President R. Albert Mohler Jr. said Bevin’s “moral clarity and candor on this issue stands out not only in the state of Kentucky but, frankly, in the entire national conversation for the fact that it is so laser-like.”
The call came just days before The Washington Post reported allegations of sexual misconduct between Judge Roy Moore, the Republican candidate for Alabama’s upcoming special Senate election, and four teenagers including a 14-year-old decades ago.
It also comes as Hollywood is also now mired in a slew of sexual assault allegations involving multiple actors and executives in the industry like Harvey Weinstein.
“These allegations are serious,” Bevin said in a speech Saturday outside the statehouse The Washington Post reported. “These allegations are specific. These allegations are reprehensible. These allegations have not been denied by anyone.
“Any elected official or state employee who has settled a sexual harassment claim should resign immediately. The people of Kentucky deserve better. We appropriately demand a high level of integrity from our leaders and will tolerate nothing less in our state . . . They should not be in government employ. They should not be representing the people of Kentucky.”
According to the Lexington Herald-Leader, Daisy Olivo, communications director for the House Republican caucus, said she told House Speaker Jeff Hoover on Sept. 5 about a female employee who was in “emotional duress” after she was allegedly subjected to physical and verbal harassment.
Hoover was later reported by the Louisville Courier-Journal as reaching a confidential settlement with an unidentified woman related to sexual harassment claims.
On Sunday, Hoover resigned as Speaker of the Kentucky Statehouse and admitted he was one of four lawmakers who settled the allegations, according to Kentucky Today.
“I engaged in banter that was consensual but make no mistake it was wrong on my part to do that,” he said at a press conference. “And for that, I am truly sorry. I want to reiterate that at no time, at no time, did I engage in unwelcome or unwanted conduct of any kind.”
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