Foust Renews Calls for Special Prosecutor After Mears Downplays Prosecutor's Investigative Authority

Indianapolis, IN — Marion County Prosecutor candidate Philip Foust issued the following statement regarding recent comments from Ryan Mears’s spokesman about allegations involving the Hogsett administration:

“Last week, I called for Mears to request a special prosecutor for review of allegations involving the Hogsett administration to avoid the appearance that any decisions regarding that probe were driven by Mears’s widely-anticipated bid for mayor in 2027.

“In response, Mears’s spokesman claimed that it would be premature to appoint a special prosecutor and that it is ‘up to police departments or other authorities to bring findings to the prosecutor for legal review and charging decisions.’ This passive framing suggests the prosecutor’s role in investigations is limited to receiving information from police. That is not accurate.

“The Prosecutor’s Office is not a mere bystander. The elected prosecutor is the chief law enforcement officer in the county.



“The Marion County Prosecutor’s Office maintains its own investigators and has the legal authority to initiate investigations independently, including through its Grand Jury Division. Mears’s sudden hands-off approach underscores why the public does not have full confidence in a process spearheaded by his office.

“Mears has publicly boasted about his commitment to proactively investigate public corruption, but when it's time to act on his own promises, suddenly Mears claims he must await the results of other agencies’ investigations.

“Given the serious allegations involving the Hogsett administration, Marion County deserves an independent review free from any appearance of political influence. Mears cannot credibly oversee a probe into the Hogsett administration while balancing his own well-known 2027 mayoral ambitions. His office’s misleading attempt to downplay the prosecutor’s investigative role further erodes what little public trust remains that these allegations will be handled appropriately. The public should have confidence that investigative decisions are based on the facts and the law, not on political considerations.”

Foust, a former deputy prosecutor, emphasized that restoring public confidence in the prosecutorial process for this inquiry requires an examination by a special prosecutor.

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