WIBC – Indianapolis City-County Council President Vop Osili says he regrets the way he handled the council’s meeting Monday night. During that meeting, Osili ordered Lauren Roberts, a former campaign staffer who accused Mayor Joe Hogsett’s top aide of sexual harassment last summer to be removed.
On Wednesday afternoon, Osili issued a statement saying he regrets the trauma he caused Roberts and her supporters.
“An already difficult moment for a survivor was made even harder,” said Osili.
Osili says it is his responsibility to ensure that the council conducts its business with decorum and civility, but he says there was a better way to handle that. Normally, the longstanding council rules limit public comment to two minutes per speaker.
“I should have called a recess, created space for calm, and shown a sensitivity in that emotionally charged moment. In that, I failed Ms. Roberts, my fellow Councilors, and those who attended the meeting that evening,” said Osili.
Osili says the council will be enacting meaningful changes in how the issue of harassment and misconduct is relayed, addressed, and accounted for in the future.
“While we did not create this problem, our members will ensure that harassment has no place in our city and county government,” said Osili.
Several members of the Indianapolis City-County Council are not pleased with the findings of an investigation by law firm Fisher Phillips. That firm concluded that Hogsett and his administration did not break the law regarding the behavior of deputy mayor Thomas Cook (who is accused of sexual harassment by multiple women). An attorney representing several of the victims revealed that the special committee investigation omitted information regarding Hogsett’s personal behavior.
Osili spoke about that too.
“The proposal regarding the outstanding bill from the investigating law firm will be heard by the Council’s Administration and Finance Committee, and I fully support the committee chair’s decision to allow Ms. Roberts and others to address the committee. I will be listening and learning. I am grateful to the members of the investigative committee for the dedication and seriousness they brought to this work and the commitment they have devoted to the issues raised by Ms. Roberts and Ms. Ellert. It is my plan to continue moving forward, more thoughtfully and more openly,” said Osili.
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