Draft:List of Indiana political scandals

This article provides a list of political scandals which occurred in the State of Indiana. It is organized in reverse chronological order from most recent to oldest.

Politician is defined as "a person who is professionally involved in politics", and includes not only those elected to office, their staffs and appointees, but also those who routinely work in politics such as pollsters. Major officials of political parties and their staffs, as well as those elected by their party to be candidates are also included. Local politicians, mayors, sheriffs, and county officials should not be included. Scandal is defined as "loss of, or damage to, reputation caused by actual or apparent violation of morality or propriety". Breaking the law is always considered a scandal. The finding of a public court is the sole method used to determine a violation of law, but it is not the sole method of determining a scandal. Please note that all people are considered innocent until proven guilty. Allegations of misconduct do not imply guilt nor do admissions of guilt in the absence of a conviction. Investigations that end without a determination do not imply innocence. Breaches of ethics, unproven crimes or cover-ups may or may not result in inclusion depending on the amount of publicity generated, and the seriousness of the crime, if any. Notoriety and notability are a major determinant of a scandal. Politicians who resign, quit, flee, or commit suicide while being investigated or threatened with investigation may also be included. Different scandals on different dates may result in multiple listings. The list does not include crimes that occur outside the politician's tenure (such as before or after his term in office) unless they specifically stem from acts made while in office, such as bribery, and discovered later. Given the political nature of legislatures where the leading party has determining power, politicians who are Rebuked, Denounced, Censured, Admonished, Condemned, Suspended, Reprimanded, Found in Contempt, Found to have Acted Improperly, or of using Poor Judgment are not included unless the scandal is exceptional or leads to further action such as expulsion, conviction or resignation. Executive pardons may or may not be mentioned, but do not erase the scandal. The verdict and legal proceedings are not affected by pardons, but may affect the sentence.

State of Indiana

 * Dan Forestal (D) State Representative from Indianapolis in the 100th District, was charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated, resisting law enforcement and impersonating a public servant. He resigned from the state legislature four days later, and pled guilty. (2020)
 * Curtis Theophilus Hill Jr. (R) Attorney General of Indiana was accused of groping four women. An investigation found the accusations credible, but not criminal. Republican state leaders called on Hill to resign, which he refused. The Indiana Supreme Court then found he had also committed battery, which violated the state rules of personal conduct. His law license was suspended for 30 days and he was not re-elected. (2018)
 * Brent Waltz (R) State Senator from Greenwood in the 36th District, was accused of accepting $40,000 of illegal campaign contributions from multiple layers of several donors and making false statements to the FBI. He was found guilty of accepting conduit payments and sentenced to 10 months in prison with a fine of $40,500. (2017)
 * Jud McMillan (R) State Representative from Brookville in District 68, claimed that his cell phone had been stolen and offensive, sexually explicit messages may have been sent from it. A week later he abruptly resigned. (2015)
 * P. Eric Turner (R) State Representative and Speaker Pro Tempore from Cicero in the 32nd District and Speaker Pro Tempore, was accused of trying to kill new nursing home regulations, which he felt would have affected his nursing home construction business. He was investigated by the House Ethics Committee which found no wrongdoing, but that he had failed to live up to the highest spirit of transparency. He was stripped of his Speaker Pro Tempore title by the House Majority Leader Republican Brian Bosma. A month later he resigned. (2014)
 * Tony Bennett (Superintendent) (R) Superintendent of Public Instruction, was accused of policies that benefited the Christel House Academy in Indianapolis. Christel House was a major donor to the Republican Party including $130,000 which Bennet gave to himself. Bennett had just taken a position as the Florida Superintendent of Public Instruction when the reports were made public. Bennett resigned. (2013)
 * Phillip Hinkle (R) State Representative from Indianapolis in the 92nd District, and family values supporter, arranged to pay an 18-year-old man up to $140 "for a really good time." Hinkle insists he is not gay and will not resign, but won't run again. (2011)
 * Charles P. White (R) Secretary of State and County Committeeman from Hamilton, was accused of voting fraud for living in a different precinct from the one he claimed, and then lied about it in order to continue to collect his Committeeman paycheck. He was found guilty of perjury, theft, and voter fraud and was sentenced to one year arrest, community service and fined. (2011)
 * Jeff Cox (R) Deputy Indiana Attorney General, referred to labor protests in Madison, Wisconsin, when he twittered to the police that the protestors were "thugs" and that they should "Use live ammo". When questioned, he stated, "you’re darn right I advocate deadly force." Soon after, he was fired by Indiana's Attorney General, Republican Greg Zoeller. (2011)
 * David Lott Hardy (R) Chairman of the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, was accused of allowing his Chief Counsel, Scott Storms, to handle cases concerning the Duke Energy Company even though he knew that Storms was seeking employment with them. Hardy was fired for ethics violations and misconduct. (2010)
 * Andrew J. Miller (R) Commissioner of the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles, was arrested for public indecency by propositioning an undercover police officer in a men's public restroom. Miller was found guilty and resigned. (2010|