Council Democrat gets kicked out of caucus after criticizing leaders. She's now apologizing
The Indianapolis City-County Council's Democratic caucus ousted one of its own members June 24 in the wake of fallout from an investigation into Mayor Joe Hogsett's administration's handling of sexual harassment claims.
Crista Carlino, who recently called for Hogsett, Council President Vop Osili and Ali Brown to resign and implied Osili limited the scope of the investigation, was removed after a vote of a majority of her colleagues, according to two council members who told IndyStar about the meeting.
Less than 24 hours after the ouster, Carlino apologized for "any undue stress and disappointment my actions caused" the Democratic caucus.
The move represents a major fracture in the party. However, it's possible she's reinstated due to her apology.
Carlino also stated that she had "no claim or proof" that council leadership "personally and directly impacted the investigation" into Hogsett's former chief of staff Thomas Cook.
Last week, Carlino implied council leaders gave "marching orders" to the outside law firm, Fisher Phillips, that conducted the investigation into the Hogsett administration. Both Osili and Brown have vehemently denied those charges.
More: Woman accusing Hogsett aide of sexual harassment dragged out of Indianapolis council meeting
"I apologize for the extreme accountability I called for in such a public way, without you there to discuss or defend your leadership and actions," Carlino said in the statement, where she also said she was stepping away from her committee chair roles, including leading the investigative committee that launched the probe.
"We are at an impasse. Deflection and false accusations have become the rhetoric," Carlino's statement continued. "This is not who we are. My colleagues on the council have lost faith in my leadership and are placing blame on me, and I accept that."
Democratic council member Ron Gibson, an ally of the mayor who recently defended Hogsett's late-night and personal texts to young women about topics including poetry, told IndyStar that Carlino was given an "opportunity to issue a public apology because of her untruthful statements about the investigation" before removing her from the caucus.
"If she is willing to be fully transparent in a public statement, then we will vote to reinstate her," Gibson said. He reiterated that she could be added back to the caucus later Wednesday after Carlino released her apology statement.
"More than likely, we vote to reinstate her," Gibson told IndyStar.
Carlino also said in the statement that when she called for the resignations "I did so because I felt it was the right thing to do in my heart at the time."
Carlino became the second member of the Democratic caucus to be removed recently; they previously voted to oust Democratic socialist Jesse Brown last year after a dispute over support of charter schools. Brown was the first member of the council to call for Hogsett's resignation.
The Concerned Clergy of Indianapolis and Baptist Ministers Alliance released a statement condemning Carlino's ouster and accusing Democrats of a "political power play."
"This is not the leadership our city needs," the groups said. "We will not sit quietly while those who speak up for justice are pushed out by those who bankroll the status quo."
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