The investigation into Hogsett's handling of harassment claims is over. What the firm found

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2 days ago

An independent investigation into Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett's response to alleged harassment by his former chief of staff Thomas Cook found that the city didn't break any laws in its response to those complaints, but raised new questions about the end of Cook's tenure as chief of staff back in 2020.
Chicago-based law firm Fisher Phillips' investigation found that Cook was allowed to stay on as chief of staff for 68 days following the city's 2020 investigation that found Cook had violated city policy by having another relationship with a subordinate. The law firm said that time period warrants further investigation.
The overall finding from the law firm is that Hogsett's administration acted within the law during three investigations conducted in 2017, 2020 and 2023 as the result of Cook's alleged behavior.
IndyStar reported last year that three women alleged that Cook sexually harassed them while he was their supervisor, and Cook engaged in another consensual relationship with a subordinate employee. One of the women alleging harassment against Cook also said that he sexually assaulted her.
"While complainants 1 and 2 challenge the existence, timing, and integrity of the investigations into their raised complaints, the response by Mayor Hogsett and his administration was legally sufficient and reasonable under the circumstances," according to the law firm's final report.
However, the report noted that while the mayor's decision to allow Cook to resign as opposed to face termination was "not inconsistent with the law," the fact that Cook had knowingly violated a prior directive against having relationships with employees "would reasonably cause the City-County's decision to be questioned."
In addition, the law firm noted that "Some individuals interviewed during this investigation shared their perception that (Cook) was given an opportunity to use the period from November 2, 2020, through December 30, 2020, to position himself for personal gain by negotiating contracts for his own benefit," according to the report.
"We also recommend (the city) identifies action steps the City-County can take to minimize potential for City-County employees to negotiate contracts for personal gain while employed at the City-County or for the 12-months following their departure," according to the firm.
Several council members on the investigative committee - including Democratic committee Chair Christa Carlino - said they felt there was a difference between the administration's legal obligations and its ethical ones.
"Just because something's perfectly legal, doesn't make it right," Carlino said. She said the council should look further into Cook's departure from the city in 2020.
Fisher Phillips also recommended that the city dissolve its current human resources structure in favor of an independent one, as well as appoint an independent inspector-general, in its presentation of a final report at the Indianapolis City-County Council's investigative committee on May 29 after a months-long investigation.
Fisher Phillips' attorney Danielle Kays said 12 people were interviewed over the course of the investigation, including Hogsett and two women who said they were harassed by Cook. Kays said the firm reached out to Cook multiple times and received no response. Cook previously apologized for his conduct in a statement to IndyStar last year. He has not been charged with a crime.
The meeting was tense and emotionally charged. At one point, Carlino recessed the meeting as Lauren Roberts, Hogsett's former deputy campaign manager, who was on speaker phone, pleaded with Carlino to get a copy of the report, which she had not received even as the law firm presented their findings about her case to the public.
"This entire thing has been torture," Roberts said. "I'm sitting here being dissected in public."
Carlino said no one from the council or public — besides its general council — had access to the report before it was presented tonight by the law firm.
"I know the wait has been excruciating for those survivors," Carlino said.
Hogsett said in a statement after the report presentation that "the findings are clear that the earlier investigations and resulting sanctions were handled appropriately and confidentially," though clarified he hadn't had time to read the report in full.
"It remains crucial that the city has the best system in place for reporting, investigating, and dealing with harassment of any kind, which is why I will work with the City-County Council on how these recommendations may further strengthen efforts to create a safer, better workplace for everyone throughout the city's operations," Hogsett said.
The City-County Council launched an investigative committee last year to probe Hogsett's response to the alleged harassment by Cook. IndyStar reported in 2024 that Cook faced sexual harassment and assault claims by three women who worked under Cook over the course of a decade.
The sexual harassment allegations in Mayor Hogsett's administration: What you need to know
Cook also had a relationship with another subordinate employee while he was serving as chief of staff, which prompted him to be asked to resign from the administration back in 2020.
Two of the women have alleged that Hogsett didn't handle the allegations properly. Roberts, for example, has said that Hogsett didn't respond to her when she reached out about Cook's alleged treatment of her during the campaign, and that she was never interviewed as part of any investigation over the conduct.
Hogsett previously apologized to women who say they were harmed by Cook, but has also defended his response.
This story will be updated.
Contact senior government accountability reporter Hayleigh Colombo at [e-mail]. Sign up for our free weekly politics newsletter, Checks & Balances, by IndyStar political and government reporters.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Here's what law firm found on Hogsett's response to sexual harassment