Photo: Dan Goldblatt (WFIU News)
Speaker Brian Bosma says Phil Hinkle's decision not to resign is a "very severe distraction."
Speaker of the House Brian Bosma says Indianapolis Representative Phil Hinkle should resign his seat amid accusations he initiated a sexual encounter with a young man at an Indianapolis hotel. Hinkle released a statement Tuesday saying he is “seeking professional help on what turned [him] down a road of self-destruction.” He said he will not run for reelection in 2012 – a decision he says was made last December – but he made no indication he will resign. Still, Bosma called on Hinkle to walk away.
“His continued service is really, it’s more than a distraction, it’s a very severe distraction for a lot of folks and it’s really detrimental to the legislative process,” Bosma said.
Bosma said the House Republican leadership met last week and privately urged Hinkle to step down. After the most recent statement from the embattled legislator, the Speaker felt obligated to publicly call for Hinkle’s resignation.
