Carmel Private Investigator Scandal Deepens; Are Carmel Democrats and Libertarians Kicking Themselves for Not Fielding a Mayor Candidate in Carmel?



Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard

Another day, another story about the City of Carmel using private investigators.  Apparently this isn't a recent occurrence, but rather it has been going on for 10 years.  Fox59, the first to break the story, updates it today:

According to emails obtained by Fox59, Carmel Mayor James Brainard said individuals "came to us that the city funds were being misused. It was of great concern that foundation funds were at risk, as well as sexual harassment and sexual intimidation. The police chief was informed, but not requested to investigate."

So why then call in private investigators to track Libman?

"The city attorney conducted his own investigation because he needed to prove or disprove these serious concerns that put the city at risk."

City Council President Eric Seidensticker said he is concerned.

"I don't know why this is the city's business, " said Seidensticker. "I'm still trying to draw the lines."

Now Fox59 has uncovered private investigators have been used in 2001, but who were they tracking and how much more did that cost to the city of Carmel? So far, our records requests have gone unanswered.

To see the rest of the article, click here.

A telling sign there is concern about these investigations is Brainard's comments suggesting the responsibility for asking for the investigations on City Attorney Doug Haney. Brainard's comments in today's Fox59 story is the second time he has publicly suggested that Haney is the one who makes the call about the private investigator. Haney though was appointed by Brainard and works for him. Does anyone think Haney's gone rogue and ordering these investigations on his own, without Brainard's approval?

This is a story that is unlikely to blow over. Other local television stations, and even the Indianapolis Star, has picked up on the story.  When it is eventually revealed who has been investigated by the private investigators over the last 10 years and what investigatory tactics have been used, there is liable to be an uproar.  Private investigators often don't strictly follow the law in how they conduct their investigations, to say the least.   Of course that's generally not a problem as those tactics don't usually get public exposure. That may change.

Mayor Brainard will be on the ballot in just under three months, seeking his fifth term.  If this scandal grows, he might have quickly become vulnerable at the polls.  The Democrats and Libertarians though failed to field a candidate in overwhelming Republican Carmel.  Without an opponent, Brainard only needs one vote to win. Presumably he will vote for himself.

It seems like a waste to put the proverbial sacrificial lamb up to get slaughtered in these lopsided partisan races.  But every now and then there is a big scandal that suddenly makes the certain winner vulnerable.  You can't win though if you don't have a candidate.

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Gary Welsh of Advance Indiana has two takes on the Carmel scandal that are worth reading:

Carmel's Use of Private Eyes Not New, Monday, August 8, 2011

Carmel Mayor Creates His Own Gestapo?, Friday, August 5, 2011