Report: 160-plus state officials accused of sexual harassment, including in Indiana
The league found that just 30% of accused lawmakers face any formal consequences and 40% resign. Only seven have served jail time.
Sexual harassment
-
City harassment investigative committee begins law-firm selection process
The City-County Council’s new investigative committee convened for the first time Tuesday evening, with the group hearing an overview of the city’s current sexual harassment reporting process.
Read More -
City-County Council committee advances effort to overhaul sexual harassment policy
The proposal calls for a formal investigation into the city’s handling of sexual harassment allegations against a former top official in the Mayor’s Office, as well as overhauling the way similar claims are handled by city staff in the future.
Read More -
Judge dismisses women’s lawsuit accusing Curtis Hill of sexual harassment
U.S. District Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson said that because the women—a state lawmaker and three legislative staffers—didn’t work for Hill, they can’t sue him under federal laws meant to prevent workplace discrimination and retaliation.
Read More
Articles
Fifth City-County Council member calls for Mayor Joe Hogsett’s resignation
In an op-ed for The Indianapolis Star on Thursday, Republican Councilor Michael-Paul Hart wrote that Hogsett has displayed a “pattern of corruption, negligence and lack of judgment.”
Hogsett responds to questions about harassment controversy at Indy Chamber event
Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett on Wednesday night said he does not think the city’s reputation will be harmed due to his administration’s response to sexual harassment allegations.
Woman who accused Hogsett aide of harassment forcibly removed from council meeting
The forced removal took place during a meeting in which City-County Council members eventually and overwhelmingly voted to delay a final $300,000 payment to Fisher Phillips, the Atlanta-based law firm hired to investigate Hogsett and his administration’s handling of harassment allegations against the mayor’s former chief of staff.
Law firm provides update to City-County Council about sexual harassment probe
Councilors authorized an external investigation in August after three women came forward with harassment allegations against the mayor’s former chief of staff.
Democrat women push state party to act on sexual harassment allegations
The letter accuses the Indiana Democratic party of hiding allegations and sheltering offenders. It also demands transparent investigations into any and all allegations of sexual harassment and assault involving party members.
Indiana Senate Democrats retain leader despite sexual harassment allegations
Sen. Greg Taylor of Indianapolis was reelected by the Indiana Senate Democratic caucus just hours after The Indianapolis Star reported three women have accused Taylor of sexual harassment.
Council committee picks law firm Fisher Phillips for city harassment probe
The Indianapolis City-County Council Investigative Committee voted Wednesday evening to select national law firm Fisher Phillips to conduct an independent investigation into the Hogsett administration’s handling of sexual harassment allegations.
Hogsett says he has ‘no intention of stepping down’
Despite concerns over the Indianapolis mayor’s response to sex harassment allegations against his former chief of staff, Joe Hogsett said he has no plans to resign and believes he reacted appropriately to the allegations at the time they were lodged.
Councilors chosen for city sexual harassment probe committee
The committee, which will have the power to subpoena witnesses including members of the Hogsett administration, is made up of five Democrats and two Republicans.
City-County Council OKs investigation into sexual harassment in Hogsett administration
The legislative body overwhelmingly approved the proposal, which authorizes an investigation by an independent human resources or law firm with no ties to city business, as well as the creation of a council investigative committee.
Hogsett staffer terminated as sexual harassment complaints rise at City-County Building
An administrator at the Indianapolis Department of Metropolitan Development was fired Wednesday after an internal investigation found “overwhelming evidence” of inappropriate sexual misconduct, according to documents released by the city’s attorneys.
Hogsett says he asked Cook to lead last campaign without knowing every allegation
Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett spoke to the media about the sexual harassment allegations against former aide Thomas Cook for the first time Wednesday.
Hogsett mandates sexual harassment training for all employees
The Hogsett administration is currently under scrutiny after three former female employees made harassment accusations against former Chief of Staff Thomas Cook, who served as Hogsett’s close adviser for years despite concerns raised about his behavior.
Hogsett apology doesn’t stop potential council probe of allegations against mayor’s ex-aide
The Democratic-controlled City-County Council allowed the immediate introduction of a measure that would potentially let a committee investigate Democratic Mayor Joe Hogsett’s response to three women’s sexual harassment allegations against Hogsett’s former top aide, Thomas Cook.
GOP leader says Hogsett failed to take serious action against top aide accused of sexual harassment
An IndyStar investigation reported that Thomas Cook, who served as Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett’s chief deputy and advised him in other capacities, was accused by three subordinate women staffers of showering them with gifts and attention and then pressuring them toward intimacy.
Boone County employee alleges harassment in suit against councilor, county
The federal lawsuit filed Wednesday by the county’s director of human resources lists Boone County Councilman Aaron Williams and Boone County as co-defendants.
Report: WWE boss McMahon’s hush cash bill over $12 million
A report says World Wrestling Entertainment impresario Vince McMahon agreed to pay more than $12 million over the past 16 years to suppress allegations of sexual misconduct and infidelity.
Senate passes bill to end forced arbitration in sexual assault, harassment cases
The bill would nullify agreements between employees and their employers in which the employees waive their rights to sue in the case of sexual assault or harassment.
McDonald’s to mandate anti-harassment training worldwide
The change is part of a larger reckoning over sexual harassment at McDonald’s. At least 50 workers have filed charges against the company over the last five years, alleging physical and verbal harassment and, in some cases, retaliation when they complained.