Indiana’s Republican Secretary of State Diego Morales faces escalating political turmoil after allegations surfaced that he hired an illegal alien to serve as his Chief of Staff. The accusations have triggered a rapid withdrawal of endorsements from key Indiana Republicans, including Attorney General Todd Rokita and U.S. Senator Jim Banks, who jointly urged Morales to suspend his campaign.

Indiana Governor Mike Braun stated he would allow the situation to play out at the state convention when asked about Morales’ deteriorating support base. State Treasurer Daniel Elliott directly called for Morales’ immediate resignation, stating: “From allegations of corruption and mismanagement to the news that his own Chief of Staff was a non-citizen illegally registered to vote, these failures have created a constant stream of controversy that has shattered confidence in the office. Indiana Republicans cannot continue asking voters to ignore conduct we would condemn anywhere else.”

Morales’ campaign integrity is under intense scrutiny following a pattern of controversies dating back to his 2022 election. Previous allegations include exaggerating military service, hiring his brother-in-law for a six-figure salary shortly after taking office, awarding millions in no-bid contracts that prompted state lawmakers to ban the practice, and spending taxpayer funds on a luxury vehicle. His administration has also faced criticism for failing to appear before a Senate appropriations committee during a critical budget request.

A timeline of misconduct reveals Morales was accused of sexual assault by two women during his 2022 campaign and later questioned over claims he paid an individual who claimed citizenship on decades-old voter registrations but was not a citizen. Despite mounting pressure, Morales has no plans to end his candidacy ahead of the June GOP convention.