INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Before a free show put on by Indianapolis-based comedian and actor Mike Epps, Mayor Joe Hogsett told the audience he was “running from things” while talking about being registered to vote.
“I want you all…look I ain’t on the ballot. I ain’t running for nothing. I’m running from things, but I ain’t running for nothing,” Hogsett told the crowd.
The comment illicted laughs from the audience and grins from those on the stage with Hogsett.
FOX59/CBS4 has reached out to the Mayor’s spokesperson to inquire about what he meant by the comment but we’ve not yet heard back.
The comment drew immediate criticism online.
It appears to be a reference to the ongoing scrutiny Hogsett is facing as a sexual harassment scandal plagues his administration.
On Wednesday, a top city employee was fired after an investigation into “inappropriate sexual misconduct.” The probe found “overwhelming evidence” supporting the allegations.
In a statement, Mayor Hogsett disclosed there are another half-dozen ongoing harassment investigations.
“I remain committed to making continued changes to our policies and practices that ensure a safe and equitable workplace for all,” Hogsett said.
All of this comes in the aftermath of reports centering on one-time Hogsett confidante Thomas Cook.
Investigations by the State and Mirror Indy disclosed Cook aggressively pursued romantic relationships with people he worked with on Hogsett’s campaigns and in the Hogsett administration.
Cook eventually resigned from his city post in 2020 after a pair of investigations found he had “inappropriate romantic relationships” with co-workers.
Last year, Cook was welcomed back to work on Hogsett’s re-election campaign where the same behavior emerged, leading to Cook’s firing in October.
But last week, when pressed on why Cook was brought back, Hogsett said, “I didn’t know anything about 2018 or 2019 until October or September of 2023.”
The mayor’s answer suggests he did not know about both investigations of Cook prior to his 2020 resignation. Meanwhile, information supplied by the city Corporation Counsel’s office indicated Hogsett did know about the twin investigations that led to Cook’s original departure.
FOX59/CBS4 asked the mayor’s office a week ago about this discrepancy but has not received a response as of this article’s publication.
Mayor Hogsett has also scaled back his public appearances in recent weeks as he continues to face questions from reporters about what he knew and when he knew it.
On Friday, Hogsett skipped out on ribbon cutting for a new shelter, and Deputy Mayor Lena Hill was sent in his place.
“I’m not sure, they asked me to come in because it’s public health and safety and that is my department,” Hill said when asked about Hogsett’s absence.
Mayor Hogsett’s spokesperson, Aliyah Wishner, said the mayor has “redirected his schedule” to focus on “supporting the employees of the City-County enterprise and continuing the work to implement recently announced internal policy changes as expeditiously as possible.”
