Overview
- Last week the Legislative Inspector General made public a report that found clear patterns of sexual harassment by former state Rep. Harry Benton and the report led to his resignation.
- The report shows a Benton staffer first raised concerns with Speaker Emanuel 'Chris' Welch’s office in April 2023 and that Welch-controlled political committees later spent about $1.4 million to support Benton’s 2024 reelection.
- Welch has apologized for social-media interactions that made the complainant uncomfortable and said he delayed stronger action in 2023 out of concern for due process after Benton denied the allegations.
- Welch announced reforms that include centralizing human-resources for House staff, a Culture and Accountability working group led by Rep. Dagmara Avelar, and hiring an outside investigator, but some lawmakers call those steps insufficient.
- Advocates and some legislators demand an outside, independent review or Welch’s resignation while Governor J.B. Pritzker has declined to press for removal and Democrats have not formally moved to oust him, raising questions about whether institutional change will follow.