Hogsett administration 'legally compliant' in sexual harassment response, report finds

Last summer, women who worked in Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett’s administration and campaigns went public with accusations of sexual harassment by a former Chief of Staff. The Indianapolis City-County Council commissioned independent firm Fisher Philips to conduct an investigation, and its results were revealed Thursday. 

The 54-page report details the administration’s actions after women reported misconduct by Hogsett aide Thomas Cook multiple times. It examines how the office responded to complaints from three separate women against Cook in 2017, 2020 and 2023.

The report found the Hogsett administration was legally compliant, if not completely transparent. The administration did not share the its initial report with Lauren Roberts, the first woman to come forward with harassment claims. She was also not interviewed. 

Councilor Andy Nielsen said the investigation makes it clear Cook should have been terminated after Roberts’ initial complaint about in 2017. 

“There is no avoiding this conclusion and not doing so was a clear lack of judgment.”

The firm interviewed 12 people for the report, but Cook did not participate. 

Cook continued to work for the city until after another complaint in 2020. Fisher Philips partner Danielle Kays presented the report at a recent meeting of the council’s investigative committee and referenced that second complaint.

“As a result of that investigation, the city county separated employment with the respondent, and we found that this response was legally compliant,” Kays said.

The report did raise questions about a two month period at the end of 2020 before Cook actually left the office. 
 

Mayor Hogsett was interviewed for the investigation. In a statement, Hogsett thanked others for participating in the investigative process.

“The findings are clear that the earlier investigations and resulting sanctions were handled appropriately and confidentially,” Hogsett said.

Another investigation in 2023 while Cook was working for Hogsett’s reelection campaign, resulted in the termination of his campaign contracts.

Republican council members took issue with the cost of the investigation, around $450,000, but 
numerous councilors said the report is just the start. Councilor Joshua Bain said the findings only present one side of the dilemma.

“Maybe this is just dawning on me now, but maybe there's different standards out there. There's legal standards, and I guess there's ethical standards, and I guess there's moral standards. I kind of view them all as one,” Bain said.

Recommendations include the installation of an HR board, improved sexual harassment training and updated anti-harassment policy. 

“The work of restoring trust, to the people of Indianapolis, to the employees, to the citizens that work here,” Councilor Michael-Paul Hart said, “it’s just beginning.”

Contact WFYI managing city editor Jill Sheridan at jsheridan@wfyi.org.