The City-County Council voted overwhelmingly Sept. 9 to investigate Mayor Joe Hogsett’s handling of allegations of sexual harassment and abuse of power in his administration.
The Council Committee on Committees — which includes Democratic Council President Vop Osili, Democratic Majority Leader Maggie Lewis and Republican Minority Leader Brian Mowery — will hold a public meeting Sept. 10 to appoint five Democrats and two Republicans to the investigative committee.
The investigative committee will hire an independent law practice or human resources firm with the power to collect evidence and subpoena witnesses to conduct the investigation.
The committee is expected to release the findings Feb. 28.
Councilor Crista Carlino raises her hand to speak. Credit: Jenna Watson/Mirror Indy 
Councilor Ali Brown discusses an amendment. Credit: Jenna Watson/Mirror Indy 
Council minority leader Brian Mowery talks to journalists. Credit: Jenna Watson/Mirror Indy 
Councilor Jessica McCormick discusses an amendment. Credit: Jenna Watson/Mirror Indy 
Councilor Joshua Bain listens to discussion. Credit: Jenna Watson/Mirror Indy 
Councilor John Barth makes a statement. Credit: Jenna Watson/Mirror Indy 
Councilor Jesse Brown discusses an amendment. Credit: Jenna Watson/Mirror Indy 
Councilor Derek Cahill talks to fellow councilors after the meeting. Credit: Jenna Watson/Mirror Indy 
Council president Vop Osili listens to discussion during a meeting of the City-County Council on Sept. 9, 2024, at the Indianapolis City-County Building. The council voted to investigate Mayor Joe Hogsett’s handling of allegations of sexual harassment and abuse of power in his administration. Credit: Jenna Watson/Mirror Indy
Democrat Crista Carlino said the independent inquiry will ensure that the firm’s findings are free of bias.
“We want to make sure the investigation comes through in a way that brings justice for victims, but also protects those individuals so they know they can be safe coming forward,” Carlino told reporters after the meeting.
In a prepared statement, Hogsett said he remains “committed to working with the City-County Council and the entire administration to make continued changes to our policies and practices, both those initiated by my administration and through this resolution.”
Councilors vote 22-1
Twenty-two councilors on the Democrat-controlled council voted in favor of the investigation.
Democrat Ron Gibson voted against the proposal. In an earlier vote against the formation of the committee, Gibson told Mirror Indy that he wanted to “see what the city plans to do going forward before we rush into trying to run the administration.”
Republican Derek Cahill abstained from voting. He told reporters after the meeting that he had “ethical concerns” about sensitive information the committee might gather getting released through a public records request.
“The challenge is there are discretionary HR records that can come through, and they lose that protection when they come into the committee,” Cahill said. “I think it would be inadvertent. I don’t think it’s anyone’s goal, but I think it could be an inadvertent disclosure.”
The council also rejected an amendment from Republican Josh Bain that would have required the firm conducting the investigation to release any documents to any committee member “upon request.”
Democrats on council expressed concerns that such a measure would result in sensitive information getting leaked to the public.
“We in general, as a council, leak like a sieve, and I get scared about the information that will be handed out,” said Democrat Ali Brown, the council’s vice president.
In his statement, Hogsett said he commended the council’s commitment to ensuring that their investigation “will protect the confidentiality of any current or former city employee who was or may be involved in any claim of sexual harassment.”
The council’s decision comes just weeks after IndyStar and Mirror Indy published separate investigations that describe how Thomas Cook, who was formerly the mayor’s chief of staff, used his power to make three women feel trapped and victimized.
A subsequent investigation by IndyStar published Sept. 5 revealed that a Hogsett administration employee was fired for sexual misconduct and six other current and former staff are actively under investigation.
A video clip of Hogsett telling a crowd at a Mike Epps concert that he is “running from things” circulated online over the weekend, leading to speculation that the mayor was speaking about the sexual harassment allegations dogging his administration.
A Hogsett administration official told IndyStar that Hogsett was “making a joke.”
Peter Blanchard covers local government. Reach him at 317-605-4836 or peter.blanchard@mirrorindy.org. Follow him on X @peterlblanchard.
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