Fourth City-County Councilor Calls for Hogsett’s Resignation

INDIANAPOLIS — Another Indianapolis City-County Councilor has called for the resignation of mayor Joe Hogsett.

Crista Carlino, who serves as chair of the council’s investigative committee, said during an Admin and Finance Committee meeting on Tuesday night that Hogsett should step down due to his handling of sexual harassment claims made by multiple women against Hogsett’s former chief of staff and campaign manager, Thomas Cook. Democrats Jesse Brown and Andy Nielsen, and Republican Josh Bain have already publicly called for Hogsett to resign as mayor.

Carlino also called on City-County Council President Vop Osli and Vice President Ali Brown to resign.

“Tonight, in this setting, I am calling for the resignation of Mayor Joe Hogsett. And furthermore, I am calling for the resignation of our council president and vice president, from their role, from their leadership posts,” Carlino said Tuesday.

Carlino also said the report from Chicago-based law firm Fisher Phillips, who was hired to conduct the investigation into Hogsett’s office and found no wrongdoing, didn’t reflect the intent of the law she helped write to launch the investigation. The firm did make at least six recommendations to the council for them to overhaul the city’s harassment and human resource policies.

At least three women have made sexual harassment or assault claims against Cook from his time working in city government in 2017, 2020 and 2023.

Mayor Hogsett released the following statement following this week’s meeting:

“I remain committed to continuing the important work we began nearly a year ago to ensure the confidentiality and safety of every employee. My focus, and that of my administration, for the remainder of my term will be on the promises we made — to create economic and social vitality and growth for the people of Indianapolis. I have no intention of resigning.”