Who all has called on Rep. Daniel Grossberg to resign? See the growing list

Several Democrats had already called on state Rep. Daniel Grossberg to resign prior to the Herald-Leader’s Friday morning publication of a story that revealed the lawmaker had been banned for life from a strip club by inappropriately touching a dancer on stage and that he’d sought prostitution there.

However, the list grew exponentially in the mid-morning hours after publication.

That list includes Grossberg’s own U.S. representative, Gov. Andy Beshear, the state Democratic party, members of Grossberg’s local county party and previously anonymous sources in prior Herald-Leader reporting about Grossberg, among others.

Grossberg and his attorney, Anna Whites, continue to play defense. Whites told Louisville Public Media she believe Grossberg will continue with the ethics complaint process in Frankfort and will “continue to do the job he was elected to do..”

She added, “Grossberg is not the first legislator to be accused of improper actions, but he is the first to be systematically denied the right to defend himself.”

At midday Friday, here’s a comprehensive list of who has called on Grossberg to step down:

U.S. Rep. Morgan McGarvey, D-KY, wrote in a post to X, formerly Twitter, that Grossberg “must resign.”

“State Rep. Daniel Grossberg must resign. Sexual assault, harassment, and abuses of power can not be tolerated,” he wrote.

McGarvey of Louisville’s 3rd Congressional District is Kentucky’s lone Democrat serving in Congress. He was elected in 2022, the same year that Grossberg first gained elected office.

The Kentucky House Democratic Caucus called on Grossberg to resign hours after the Herald-Leader’s latest story published. He had already been suspended from the caucus pending a full investigation by the Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission and the Kentucky Legislative Research Commission. A statement from the caucus said that the 20-member caucus held a vote on the matter.

“Our caucus does not believe Rep. Grossberg should hold office as he responds to these appalling matters,” caucus leaders said in a joint statement. “It has become abundantly clear to us that he cannot and should not represent his constituents and our commonwealth any longer. Our caucus met this morning and voiced strong support for the victims. On their behalf, our members are calling on Representative Grossberg to resign immediately.”

Rep. Chad Aull, D-Lexington, posted his own statement on the matter calling the allegations contained in the recent story “disappointing and disturbing.”

Gov. Andy Beshear and Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman both stated unequivocally that Grossberg must step down.

“Enough is enough. Women and girls in Kentucky deserve better and so do Rep. Grossberg’s constituents,” Coleman said. “He has had ample opportunity to do the right thing by stepping aside, and if I were him, I’d take it sooner rather than later.”

The district boundaries of Sen. Cassie Chambers Armstrong, D-Louisville, 19th Senate District overlap some with Grossberg’s House District 30. She called on him to resign Friday morning.

Kentucky Democratic Party Chair Colmon Elridge also called on Grossberg to resign Friday morning.

“Every individual deserves to be held accountable for their own actions — particularly those who represent Kentuckians in the halls of our Capitol. Representative Grossberg has repeatedly proven that he is unfit to serve and must resign from office.”

Allison Wiseman and Emma Curtis, both of whom occupy leadership roles in Kentucky Young Democrats, publicly identified themselves as sources in previous Herald-Leader reporting in their calls on Grossberg to resign. Curtis did so in an oped published one day before the newspaper’s most recent investigation.

Wiseman posted a statement to X on Friday.

“These feelings of mine will never go away. Everyday I liive with my story, but also the stories people have trusted me to hold,” Wiseman wrote. The post was captioned with the comment “I am one of Grossberg’s victims. He needs to resign.”

Louisville Democratic Party Chair Logan Gatti wrote Friday morning that Grossberg should resign.

“In light of the disturbing new allegations brought forth in the most recent Herald-Leader article, out of respect for the women who shared their experiences, and in the interest of the people of District 30 that deserve to be represented in Frankfort in the fullest capacity, II believe that it is time for Representative Grossberg to resign,” Gatti wrote.

Additionally, Louisville strategist Beth Thorpe, communications chair for the local party, released a statement calling on him to resign.

It is my practice to not comment publicly on any situations involving Kentucky Democratic candidates or elected officials. But I am today,” she wrote.

“The accounts of multiple women, in multiple settings that have credibly accused Daniel Grossberg of sexual harassment, sexual assault– which is what “inappropriate touching” is– as well as deeply distasteful and other inappropriate behavior, has made me feel I have no other ethical choice but to give my opinion on this matter publicly and stand with all of the women who have come forward.”

Olivia Krauth, a former Courier-Journal reporter, also called on Grossberg to resign, citing her own experiences with the Louisville lawmaker as a reporter.

“It is time for Rep. Daniel Grossberg to resign from public office. Period. Point blank. It is time,” Krauth wrote in a post to X.