A second Kentucky state lawmaker is being publicly accused of sexual harassment. Louisville attorney Thomas Clay is representing Nicole Cusic, who claims she was retaliated against when she complained about the behavior of state Rep. Will Coursey, a Democrat from Symsonia in western Kentucky.“For instance, I believe he was asking one of the interns to go to the Governor’s Ball with him, and there were some other things that involved explicit language, which she thought was inappropriate," Clay says.Cusic, who was Coursey’s secretary, claims she was transferred out of his office when she confronted him. Coursey denies all allegations and Cusic was transferred because of a poor work history, his attorney says.“Mr. Coursey’s position is that he’s never had an inappropriate relationship with anybody, and the lady who’s making the complaint did work for him, but the reason she was transferred was that she had a poor work history," said Mark Edwards, Coursey's attorney.Another state lawmaker, Rep. John Arnold, D-Sturgis,resigned this month after three women accused him of sexual harassment.He also denies the allegations. Last week, Legislative Research Commission director Robert Sherman announced his retirement.The LRC had come under criticism for its handling of sexual harassment claims.(Past coverage of the Arnold sexual harassment allegations from WFPL and the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting.)
