INDIANAPOLIS — A lawyer for Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill said Wednesday that calls for the Republican’s resignation over allegations that he drunkenly groped a state lawmaker and three legislative staffers are ‘‘pure hysteria’’ based on a flawed initial investigation.

Attorney Kevin Betz said during a news conference that Hill faces ‘‘false and malicious’’ information included in a report prepared for state legislative leaders about the allegations stemming from a March 15 party at an Indianapolis bar. The report was leaked to the media, and three of the women later publicly accused Hill of inappropriately touching them during the party celebrating the end of the legislative session.

Betz said Wednesday that a defamation lawsuit could be filed because the allegations included in the confidential report were more serious than what two of the women said happened in their public statements.

‘‘With alcohol flowing, perceptions are a very difficult thing to come to a firm conclusion about,’’ Betz said.

Republican Governor Eric Holcomb and state GOP leaders have called on Hill to resign. Indiana Inspector General Lori Torres is investigating the claims, and a special prosecutor will review her findings to determine whether Hill will face criminal charges.

Hill has denied the allegations and rebuffed the calls for his resignation. He is also challenging the appointment of a special prosecutor.

Hill, a staunch social conservative who is married, had been viewed as a rising star in the Republican Party since his election in 2016. The former Elkhart County prosecutor is also an Elvis impersonator who has relished punditry appearances on Fox News. If Hill doesn’t resign, majority Republicans could take action to remove him. Republican leaders have declined to say whether they might take those steps.

Associated Press