Indiana State Rep. Phillip Hinkle is
being called on to resign amid allegations he proposed sex to an
18-year-old male.
Hinkle's accuser Kameryn Gibson told
The Indianapolis Star that the 64-year-old lawmaker exposed
himself in a downtown Indianapolis hotel room where the pair had
agreed to meet.
Hinkle co-authored the bill that
created the state's “In God We Trust” license plate and earlier
this year he voted in favor of an amendment that would
constitutionally ban the state from recognizing with either marriage
or civil unions the relationships of gay and lesbian couples.
Gibson told the paper on Friday that
Hinkle responded to his Craigslist.com ad looking for a “sugga
daddy” and offered him $80 plus a “healthy” tip for “a really
good time.” He added that he met the lawmaker, but decided against
going further after he learned Hinkle was a state representative.
In one email, Hinkle described himself:
“I am an in shape married professional, 5'8”, fit 170 lbs, and
love getting and staying naked.”
And in a text message from his
Blackberry, he suggested Gibson should spend the night: “If u want
to consider spending the nigh u might tell ur sis so she won't worry.
Would have u back before 11 tomorrow. No extra cash just free
breakfast and maybe late night snack.”
Gibson's sister, Megan Gibson, told the
paper that she and her brother were offered $10,000 to keep the
matter private.
In an interview with Indianapolis NBC
affiliate WTHR, Gibson said Hinkle grabbed his ass.
“When I wanted to leave, he was like
… 'cause I said my sister is coming to get me. He was like you're
not leaving until we do what we planned to do. And I didn't want to
have sex with him,” Gibson said.
“He was just like well you're not
going anywhere,” he added. “He grabbed my arm and he grabbed my
shirt and then he went sexual with it by touching my butt.”
“And he exposed himself?” the
interviewer asked.
“Yes, he did,” Gibson replied.
(The video is embedded in the right panel of this page.)
While Governor Mitch Daniels refused to
comment on whether Hinkle should resign, calling the matter a
“personal family tragedy,” Marion County Republican Chairman Kyle
Walker strongly recommended “Hinkle resign his position so that he
can focus on his family and not have this situation detract from that
or the work that needs to continue in his legislative district.”
Indiana House Speaker Brian Bosma told
the Star: “If the circumstances are as reported, it is an
extremely sad and disappointing situation for all of us, especially
the families involved.”