Foust Calls for Special Prosecutors in Both Hogsett Administration and Broad Ripple Business Cases

Citing Judge's Dismissal Order, Foust Points to Inconsistent Statements by Prosecutor Ryan Mears Regarding His Authority to Start and Conduct Investigations

Indianapolis, IN — Philip Foust, Republican candidate for Marion County Prosecutor, today called on Ryan Mears to request independent special prosecutors in both the Hogsett administration pay-to-play allegations and the Broad Ripple business tax cases. Citing recent court findings showing Mears personally ordered investigations into local business owners, Foust highlighted a glaring double standard and Mears's conflicting statements regarding his authority to start and conduct investigations.

"Last week, a Marion County judge issued a scathing order dismissing one of the Broad Ripple restaurant tax cases. In that order, the court noted that Mears personally directed one of his investigators to look into Broad Ripple businesses' and started this investigation without a referral from the Department of Revenue or the involvement of IMPD or any other law enforcement agency.

"Yet Mears just told the public that his office is 'not an investigative body' as an excuse not to request a special prosecutor to look into the Hogsett administration. He can't have it both ways.

Either prosecutors have a legitimate role in initiating investigations, or they do not. Mears claimed the power to initiate an investigation into Broad Ripple businesses. Yet when serious allegations involving the Mayor's office were publicly reported, Mears claimed to be powerless to start an investigation.

"Remember, Mears refuses to come clean about his 2027 mayoral ambitions, which have painted him into a corner on the Hogsett case. Any decision he makes will be viewed as political. This is the reason we have independent special prosecutors. Instead of owning up to his mayoral plans and stepping aside for a special prosecutor, Mears publicly stated he can't start an investigation into the Hogsett administration on his own. However, in 2023, he started his own investigations into Broad Ripple business owners with far less suspicious activity, and in 2025, Mears publicly boasted about his commitment to proactively investigate public corruption.

"Mears is undermining confidence in the prosecutor's office and the judicial system. Here is how we fix this: Hand both the Hogsett matters and these Broad Ripple cases to truly independent special prosecutors. Stop the double standards. Just play it straight with the people of Marion County."

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