SPRINGFIELD, Ill. () — A newly released report from the legislative inspector general details sweeping sexual harassment allegations against former Illinois state Rep. Harry Benton, concluding that investigators found a “pattern and practice” of misconduct involving three women over roughly two years.
The report says Benton, a Plainfield Democrat, repeatedly engaged in harassing behavior beginning in 2023. That year, a staff member brought concerns to House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch. Investigators wrote that Welch later spoke with Benton over Zoom after the staffer resigned, but the issue did not move forward because she chose not to submit a formal complaint.
The inspector general’s findings include explicit and salacious accounts from three women, while also noting that some specific allegations were not substantiated. The bipartisan Legislative Ethics Commission voted unanimously to leave all of the accounts in the final report.
“We agreed that the totality of those unfounded items add to the narcissistic approach and careless regard for office shown by former Representative Benton,” said Illinois state Rep. Jeff Keicher, a Republican who chairs the commission.
Benton has denied the accusations, but he resigned amid mounting pressure and removed himself from the November ballot.
Welch said the report validates the way his office responded to the first complaint. “The report reaffirms confidence that our office acted responsibly-following legal guidance, respecting the wishes of those who came forward, and taking decisive action as additional information established a pattern of misconduct,” he said in a statement.
In February, Welch was made aware of two more complaints and sent them to the inspector general. Still, some lawmakers argue his leadership deserves closer examination, pointing to the fact that after the initial complaint emerged, Welch’s political operation spent $1.4 million backing Benton’s 2024 reelection campaign.
“There was certainly more that could have been done. As we look through the very clear rearview mirror, spending that money to save that seat really sent a message that winning was more important than protecting people,” said Rep. Kelly Cassidy, a Democrat who serves on the ethics commission.
“You have knowledge that somebody was wronged, you have to take aggressive, proactive steps to limit sexual harassment,” Keicher added.
House Republican Leader Tony McCombie said, “Had the speaker acted appropriately in 2023, we would not be here today, there would not have been additional allegations.” Some Republicans are calling for Welch to resign.
Gov. JB Pritzker declined to weigh in on Welch’s future.
“Well, it’s not up to me to make the decision about who the Speaker of the House is. I didn’t opine about it when he ran for it in the first place. I’m not going to opine about it now,” Pritzker said.
Pritzker, Welch and Republican leaders are now urging additional reforms to strengthen accountability and prevent harassment in state government. But Cassidy cautioned that policy changes have limits, saying, “there’s no training that’s going to make somebody not an idiot.”
