* WTTW’s Paris Schutz…
The former campaign worker in House Speaker Michael Madigan’s political organization who accused another former Madigan worker of sexual harassment, and the organization of retaliating against her, is asking the state’s top legislative watchdog to investigate.
Alaina Hampton filed a formal complaint Monday with Illinois Legislative Inspector General Julie Porter, claiming that former Madigan lieutenant Kevin Quinn, who she is accusing of sexual harassment, was working for the state during the period that some of the alleged harassment was taking place.
State records show that Quinn, who served mostly as a political campaign operative for Madigan, was on the state payroll from early November 2016 through the end of July 2017. Hampton says Quinn, who was her supervisor, sent her persistent text messages asking her out on dates and commenting on her body. She says she repeatedly rebuffed his overtures, asking that they keep their relationship strictly professional. The text messages were sent between August and December of 2016.
Hampton has filed a federal lawsuit against the Madigan-controlled Democratic Party of Illinois and the 13th Ward political organization, accusing them of retaliating against her for coming forward with sexual harassment complaints. She also says the party conducted a sham investigation into her complaints and only fired Quinn when they knew she was going to go public about her experience.
I went over this with subscribers today and there’s lots more to this story, so go read the whole thing.
- Peru-LaSalle - Tuesday, May 1, 18 @ 9:21 am:
What about the Frank Mautino investigation?
- Texas Red - Tuesday, May 1, 18 @ 9:30 am:
The Democratic Party of Illinois must be proud of their newly re-elected Chair Michael Madigan.
- Soapbox Derby - Tuesday, May 1, 18 @ 9:57 am:
Has anybody checked where Kevin Quinn is working these days? City of Chicago or Cook County?
- Stand Tall - Tuesday, May 1, 18 @ 10:09 am:
This once again shows that Speaker Madigan has too much power, control and influence over the party. He should have been ushered to the side while a truly independent investigation was done. This is just part of the overall corrupt system of government in Illinois.
- hummm - Tuesday, May 1, 18 @ 12:05 pm:
==- Soapbox Derby - Tuesday, May 1, 18 @ 9:57 am:
Has anybody checked where Kevin Quinn is working these days? City of Chicago or Cook County?==
I ran into someone who is close with him. The guy lost his job, his kids, his house, and is on the verge of bankruptcy. He has no employment prospects. He is looking at a year or two of legal fees related to Hampton’s lawsuit and complaints.
Not to be insensitive to Hampton, but does that seem an appropriate punishment for sending text messages asking someone out?
- Soapbox Derby - Tuesday, May 1, 18 @ 12:16 pm:
== hummm
“appropriate punishment”? Ask Senator Silverstein. He lost his job for flirting with a lobbyist, not an employee he was supervising who asked him repeatedly to stop.
How exactly did Quinn “lose his kids” in this matter?
Did you fail to mention his other problems stemming from additional legal troubles he is undergoing?
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-quinn-harassment-arrest-20180215-story.html
- Suburbanon - Tuesday, May 1, 18 @ 12:53 pm:
Other than a MJM resignation, what would resolve this dispute?
- SSL - Tuesday, May 1, 18 @ 2:12 pm:
Ms. Hampton deserves better, but she won’t get it in this state, or on this blog for that matter. She will fight an incredible uphill battle if she is looking for justice in the land of Madigan.
Move out of state and start over where the deck isn’t stacked against you.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, May 1, 18 @ 2:58 pm:
=== Ms. Hampton deserves better ===
What does she deserve? Money? The ability to run campaigns for MJM again? MJM’s resignation?
I am not sure what you would consider to be “justice” in this case.
Not to mention that we do not know all of the facts - that will work itself out through the pending litigation.
- SaulGoodman - Tuesday, May 1, 18 @ 3:03 pm:
**but does that seem an appropriate punishment for sending text messages asking someone out?**
And, by “sending text messages” you actually mean continually harassing a subordinate after she told him to stop?
And most of Quinn’s now existing problems have nothing to do with Alaina.
- Billy R - Tuesday, May 1, 18 @ 4:04 pm:
This complaint filed from ms. Hampton with the IGs office is without merit. During the time Quinn worked for the state of Illinois and the unwanted texts occurred, Hampton was not a state employee. She worked for the city of Chicago Heights. So I am not sure what her actual complaint with the IG is but I am assuming it will not be founded.
- Flugel - Tuesday, May 1, 18 @ 5:09 pm:
—-“The mission of the Anti-Harassment, Equality, and Access Panel is to engage our primary stakeholder, women in Democratic politics, to identify and help eliminate obstacles, including sexual harassment, and to elevate women into positions of leadership in the Illinois Democratic Party by providing recommendations to promote a culture of equity, safety, and respect,” said panel spokesperson Christie Lacey.—
If this is what the panel is doing what is the issue with Yarbrough’s relationship with Madigan? Yarbrough is one of the most prominent women in the party. Madigan is likely going to listen to her when she makes recommendations. Isnt that what you want? If the issue is her ties to Madigan, what about Mendoza? Madigan was responsible for Mendoza’s political trajectory.
- Mama - Tuesday, May 1, 18 @ 5:13 pm:
Her case appears to be more about politics than about harassment. Is she on someone’s payroll?
- Anonymous - Tuesday, May 1, 18 @ 5:45 pm:
The word is that Hampton and her attorneys are being financed by millionaire Blair Hull.
- SSL - Tuesday, May 1, 18 @ 6:11 pm:
Okay, we now have “the word”. Thanks for nothing.
The defenders of Mike Madigan are an interesting group.
Ms. Hampton brought her suit so we’ll see what happens. But what isn’t in question is that Madigan got busy only when she went public. So, was he really concerned or just trying to cover his own behind. Not hard for some to figure out, but the Madigan fan club is a little thick.
- Arthur Andersen - Tuesday, May 1, 18 @ 6:33 pm:
Yarbrough was “ousted” earlier today per the Sun-Times.
- Fundatd - Tuesday, May 1, 18 @ 6:56 pm:
SSL, what was the “cover up”? According to Hampton, she went to Alderman Quinn and asked him to make the behavior stop. She said it did stop. She went to work for a political opponent. Months later she wrote to Madigan to tell him what happened months ago. He dispatched someone to talk to Hampton and Quinn to get both sides of the story. Madigan terminated the guy from his state job and political job. You may think he didn’t move quick enough. Others may think a person shouldn’t lose their state job over texts sent when doing political work.
- SSL - Tuesday, May 1, 18 @ 7:00 pm:
I don’t think there will be any facts coming from Camp Madigan. I wouldn’t be surprised to see everything resolved quietly.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, May 1, 18 @ 7:07 pm:
Have you read the federal lawsuit? Her case is not real strong.
Proving work place sexual Harassment in the Court of law is extremely difficult.
Where have you been for the last 46 years? Speaker Madigan doesn’t settle. Especially in this particular case where most of what you and others know is via the biased media.
- SSL - Tuesday, May 1, 18 @ 7:38 pm:
Thanks for your expert analysis. Your best bud Madigan clearly has nothing to worry about.
Media bias is in the eye of the beholder. Ask someone who watches MSNBC what they think of FOX. And vice versa.
Good discussion. Thanks.
- naperville mom - Tuesday, May 1, 18 @ 9:28 pm:
Its obvious that the Illinois #MeToo movement died right in front of Speaker Madigan’s office door.
How many of the participants in that attack posted here today?
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, May 1, 18 @ 10:25 pm:
===The word is that Hampton and her attorneys are being financed by millionaire Blair Hull.===
Y’all really need to stop drinking so much.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, May 1, 18 @ 10:30 pm:
===What does she deserve? Money?===
Posted from a Cook County government IP address. 162.217.186.224 in case inquiring minds want to know.
Address type IPv4
Hostname static-162-217-186-224.cookcountyil.gov
ASN 46286 - COOK-COUNTY - Cook County
ISP Cook County
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, May 1, 18 @ 10:32 pm:
=== Fundatd===
Ip Address
98.226.69.0
Connection Type
Cable/DSL
City Name
Berwyn
postal
60402
Latitude
41.8321
Longitude
-87.7897
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, May 1, 18 @ 10:36 pm:
===The word is that Hampton and her attorneys are being financed by millionaire Blair Hull===
IP Address 174.221.129.235
Country United States
Region Illinois
City Chicago
Postal Code 60602
Latitude 41°50′53″ N
Longitude 87°39′06″ W
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, May 1, 18 @ 10:39 pm:
…Argue the merits all day. I’m all ears. Get into other stuff and I’m coming for you.
- Who else - Wednesday, May 2, 18 @ 7:59 am:
==Others may think a person shouldn’t lose their state job over texts sent when doing political work. ==
And others might think political work shouldn’t include sexually harassing women, working to silence and discredit women who come forward, or making it crystal clear that women who come forward to report sexual harassment will be
publicly and privately shunned by those who wish to maintain existing power structures at all costs.
But here we are.