Rep. DeLaney Advocates for Due Process in Hogsett Investigation

INDIANAPOLIS — State Representative Ed DeLaney, who ran against Mayor Joe Hogsett nearly ten years ago, still wants to extend some grace to his political rival during the ongoing sexual harassment investigation at the City-County building.

“I am a lawyer, and I believe in due process,” DeLaney told Indy Politics. “When the mayor gets into trouble, the first thought shouldn’t be the death penalty. Instead, we should first consider looking at the situation.”

An Indianapolis City-County Council committee is investigating multiple harassment claims involving Mayor Hogsett’s office. The investigation began several years ago with Lauren Roberts, who worked on the Hogsett campaign, and Caroline Ellert, a former city employee.

Both women claim their former boss, Thomas Cook, the mayor’s former Deputy Chief of Staff, pressured them into romantic relationships by misusing his position.

DeLaney says as the investigation unfolds, he wants to see what the committee of different City-County Council members uncovers in their investigation.

“Let’s see what we need to do to the council and our bureaucrats as to how they’re handling people, and let’s see what the mayor’s responsibility is.”

The investigative committee will meet again on Wednesday, October 9, at 5:30 p.m. to select the outside law firm to conduct the investigation.