* WLS AM…
Illinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin is stopping short of calling for embattled Democratic Senator Ira Silverstein to resign, after a victim’s rights advocate accused the Senator of sexually harassing her.
Durkin told “The Big John and Ramblin’ Ray Show” on WLS that even though the allegations against Silverstein are serious, the Senator deserves due process. Durkin also believes that newly appointed Legislative Inspector General Julie Porter will conduct a thorough investigation.
“I can’t speak for Senator Silverstein but I do believe that he has at least some process that has to be played out by the Inspector General. A complaint has been filed, she will investigate the matter. That will be taken up in an expeditious manner. I’m not going to speak for Senator Silverstein though. He’s in a situation where it is very troubling but I still believe that you are awarded process.” […]
Durkin also told WLS that the legislature could eventually take some kind of action against Silverstein, depending on Porter’s findings.
“There could be some type of action taken if there is a complaint that is determined to be well-founded or they believe that an act of misconduct did occur.”
* On to Madigan…
Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan has stopped short of calling for Sen. Ira Silverstein to resign following sexual harassment allegations against him from a female lobbyist. […]
Earlier this week, three top Democrats running for Governor called on Senator Silverstein to resign. Madigan wouldn’t go that far.
“Senator Silverstein should decide what Senator Silverstein wants to do,” he said. “We did this training session. We’ve passed the legislation. Our resolve is to have our task force, chaired by Rep. Currie, to continue to work on this, to take suggestions and ideas, and just continue to work against a culture of abuse.”
Interestingly enough, I don’t think the two Senate leaders have been asked this question.
*** UPDATE *** OK, Cullerton has been asked. Thanks, Monique!…
And I’m told that Gov. Rauner told reporters today that it was a matter for the Legislative Inspector General to decide. But the IG can’t actually remove him from the Senate. The Senate can only do that with a vote of two-thirds of the members elected to the chamber.
- Whatever - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 3:23 pm:
==And I’m told that Gov. Rauner told reporters today that it was a matter for the Legislative Inspector General to decide. But the IG can’t actually remove him from the Senate.==
If I were an Illinois Supreme Court justice, I would just have someone ask the Governor for answers to legal questions, and simply decide the opposite. Guaranteed to be right, while saving hours of legal research.
- VanillaMan - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 3:23 pm:
Can you imagine how insane government would be if a couple of leaders could simply demand the ouster of an elected legislator without due process?
Nice to see Democrats recognizing a constitution, but then, Ira is a Democrat too.
Ira should step down just to heal his family - hope he’ll be able to.
- Lou - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 3:24 pm:
Cullerton needed a reliable vote at least through the end of th veto session. Votes are more important than ethics.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 3:25 pm:
===Cullerton needed a reliable vote at least through the end of th veto session.===
lol
Have you seen the margins on these override votes?
- m - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 3:54 pm:
There’s a reason lawmakers aren’t jumping over themselves to call for his ouster. Even the other side is being quiet.
They haven’t seen any evidence of anything actually meeting the legal definition of harassment.
- Molly Maguire - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 3:59 pm:
Agree with -m-. Last night had my wife read the messages and the story. She, a strong feminist and liberal who regularly calls out bad male behavior, said it wasn’t even close to sexual harassment in her opinion and based on the evidence presented, the senator is being tarred and feathered unfairly.
- Michelle Flaherty - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 4:05 pm:
===Cullerton needed a reliable vote at least through the end of th veto session.===
That debt transparency override would have only passed 51-3 without Silverstein. He was clearly the key vote.
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 4:07 pm:
Every day that passes seems to help Silverstein. Today, Roy Moore looks like he has a better chance of going to prison than to the Senate. And Louis CK will now dominate the weird and inappropriate sex news for a while.
Compared with those two, Ira looks fine. He still is going to face a primary and the political damage is done. But on the creep factor, if Louis CK is a seven, Moore is an 11, and Silverstein is rather low in comparison.
- cdog - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 4:11 pm:
Exactly, m and MM. Madigan and Cullerton have it right too.
The man deserves due process, and the facebook-footsie female will hopefully think twice about the tactics employed to accomplish a legislative end.
IMHO she just used him, kept him on a string, until she didn’t need him anymore.
- I ride motorcycles - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 4:12 pm:
m,
I agree there’s a reason for bipartisan quiet, but my guess is that the reason has more to do with legislators and lobbyists wanting this hornet’s nest to unstir as quickly as possible.
- Perrid - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 4:14 pm:
I think his conduct does meet the definition of harassment, but even if they don’t, if the advances were completely reciprocated he still made advances on someone who was asking for or needing his help related to his job as a legislator. Even ignoring the fact that he has a wife and 4 kids - anyone who is willing to lie to and betray the people closest to them will lie to and betray anyone - he needs to go.
- Arthur Andersen - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 4:24 pm:
Spot on, 47.
- Just tired of it - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 4:25 pm:
Interesting how a similar issue is brewing in Minnesota and leaders immediately call for a resignation: http://www.startribune.com/calls-increase-on-sen-dan-schoen-accused-of-sexual-harassment-to-resign/456405043/