Investigative committee hires Chicago-based law firm to investigate sexual harassment allegations in Hogsett administration

INDIANAPOLIS — The committee established to investigate Mayor Joe Hogsett’s administration and its handling of sexual harassment allegations confirmed which outside law firm it has hired to look into the HR complaints.

The seven-member special investigative committee held its second meeting Wednesday night where it announced the hiring of Fisher Phillips, a law firm based out of Chicago, to carry out the investigation.

The committee said it could reach this decision without the full approval of the Indianapolis City-County Council since it “does not involve a fiscal or policy ordinance.”

The committee was formed after the council voted to conduct a thorough investigation into Hogsett’s handling of an investigation into one of his former aides, Thomas Cook, who was accused of sexual harassment and coercing a former city employee, Caroline Ellert, and a prior member of the mayor’s campaign team, Lauren Roberts.

The committee, which consists of five Democrats and two Republicans, held its first meeting on Oct. 1 where it addressed the city’s human resources system as part of a wider effort to overhaul its reporting systems so employees can report anonymous complaints.

Councilors Andy Nielsen, Crista Carlino, Jessica McCormick, Kristin Jones and Rena Allen represent the Democrats on the committee while the Republicans are represented by Minority Leader Brian Mowery and Councilor Josh Bain.

According to previous reports, Cook was the center of three separate sanctions between October 2017 and October 2023.

Following the sanctions, Cook was prohibited from engaging in any romantic relationships with his co-workers. Cook resigned shortly after in December 2020 after being found to have reportedly violated a 2017 order to not be in a romantic relationship with any of his subordinates.

The ensuing investigation also resulted in another top staffer being fired in early September following allegations of “inappropriate sexual misconduct.”

The committee is set to meet again on Nov. 14.