FRANKFORT- The legislative leaders are responding to accusations made in report by the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting and Kentucky Public Radio. 

KyCIR and KPR obtained sealed deposition from the woman accusing former House Speaker Jeff Hoover of sexual harassment. In her testimony, the woman details what she says was daily touching by the former House Speaker, and says she was sexually assaulted by Hoover more than 50 times during her employment. 

Current House Speaker David Osborne released a statement on Thursday, saying he takes the accusations very seriously. 

 “House Majority Leadership takes all allegations of a hostile work environment seriously. When the accusations came to light over a year ago, we asked the Legislative Ethics Commission, the appropriate venue for accusations like this, to investigate the matter. They did so and released their findings to the public. Today, we asked the Legislative Ethics Commission if they had the information from this deposition when we referred the claims to them last year. We will wait to hear from the Ethics Commission, but Kentuckians can be certain that we will remain vigilant in our efforts to provide a safe, productive workplace for all of our employees," his statement read. 

The woman said she was afraid to say anything because of the position of power Hoover held. Senate President Robert Stivers says they have made changes to the way sexual harassment is handled in the General Assembly., adding there is no room for this type of behavior in his chamber. 

"I can tell you this, as long as I'm here, no matter who it is--I will take action. The action that I am allowed to by the extent of the law." Stivers said. "If it is censure, it will be censure. If it is removal from committees, it will be removal from committees. If it is removal from an office and no access to computers, staff or anything else. It will be that, make no doubt." 

The Kentucky Democratic Party has called on Rep. Hoover and Rep. Michael Meredith, R-Oakland, who has also involved with sexual harassment allegations, to resign their seats. This could be the only way for them to be removed from their positions. Stivers says impeaching them could face some constitutional hurdles. 

"I think it's going to be really difficult for the House, because if you look at censure and impeachment and everything else, there has been a preceding election," he said. "I think the constitution talks about, you can actually expel somebody from your chamber but only for the electoral cycle. That's going to be a really interesting interpretation of the constitution, because there has been a cycle in between the events that are alleged to have happen and now as the individual body sits." 

Republican gubernatorial candidate William Woods is siding with the KDP and calling for Meredith and Hoover to resign. 

“They should resign immediately.  The allegations are disgusting, criminal and do not fit in with the values established in our Commonwealth or our nation," he said in a statement. 

Hoover and three other Republican lawmakers entered into a $110,000 settlement with the woman in 2017.