U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye angrily denied accusations by nine anonymous women who, according to a state lawmaker, claim he sexually harassed or abused them.
The allegations this week follow public accusations against Inouye last month by his former barber, who said the Hawaii Democrat sexually assaulted her 17 years ago. Inouye denied those claims, too."What I've heard is just outrageous," Inouye was quoted as saying in today's Honolulu Advertiser. "This is just guilt by innuendo and guilt by anonymous allegation."
State Rep. Annelle Amaral, head of the House Women's Caucus, said Tuesday that nine women had called her with stories of Inouye's alleged sexual harassment and abuse.
The allegations ranged from inappropriate touching to sexual intercourse, Amaral said.
Amaral said she knows the identity of only two of the nine women, but she refused to disclose any names, saying the women requested confidentiality. She said some claimed to have worked for Inouye.
"I, for one, demand that Ms. Amaral release those nine names if she has them, because I want to know who is accusing me," Inouye said. "If I were hiding something I would not be making that demand."
Amaral, a Democrat and a former police officer who specialized in sex abuse prevention, said she also wants the women to go public.