* The House Republican Organization calls out three targeted, female House Democrats on the Harry Benton case…
Two weeks after Representative Harry Benton was removed from the Democratic Caucus and stripped of his committee assignments, serious questions remain about why such an extraordinary step was taken.
As calls for transparency grow louder, Representatives Murri Briel, Suzanne Ness, and Katie Stuart have refused to speak out or demand answers from their own leadership.
Their silence raises serious concerns about transparency and accountability.
Illinois residents remember how many lawmakers stayed silent during the Madigan corruption and harassment scandals and refused to return the political money tied to his operation. Now, as serious questions surround Benton, that same culture of silence appears to be repeating itself.
If Democratic leadership believed Benton’s conduct was serious enough to justify removing him from their caucus and stripping him of committee assignments, the public deserves to know why and how it is being handled.
Representatives Briel, Ness, and Stuart should explain what happened and where they stand.
Until they provide answers, the questions will only grow louder:
• Will they remain silent on Benton just as many did during the Madigan scandal?
• Were they instructed by Speaker Welch or Democratic leadership to stay quiet?
• What exactly led to Representative Benton being removed from the Democratic Caucus and his committees?
• And if they cannot explain it, why should Illinois residents trust that anything is being handled transparently?
Illinois families expect accountability from the people they elect. Right now, the silence from Representatives Briel, Ness, and Stuart is speaking volumes.
Lots and lots of rumors out there. But we’re not even getting so much as a “We cannot discuss personnel matters” response, if that’s indeed the issue. It’s just “No comment” from the House Speaker and radio silence from Benton.
Discuss.
- twowaystreet - Wednesday, Mar 11, 26 @ 12:17 pm:
At this point, surviving through the primary election seems to be the goal by sidestepping.
My guess is we will learn more post-March 17.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Mar 11, 26 @ 12:22 pm:
===surviving through the primary election seems to be the goal===
That thought has crossed my mind, but Harry has no state Rep. primary opposition. I don’t see a reason to punt.
- Socially DIstant Watcher - Wednesday, Mar 11, 26 @ 12:47 pm:
==I don’t see a reason to punt==
But there’s also no reason to speak. There’s an investigative process. Maybe it’s playing out. Maybe it’ll run on it’s own timeline, and not one set by the super minority.
Both candidates are unopposed in their primaries. What are voters supposed to do with this partial information?
- Billy Bob - Wednesday, Mar 11, 26 @ 1:03 pm:
==What are voters supposed to do with this partial information?==
Demand transparency from their leaders.
- Totally Tony - Wednesday, Mar 11, 26 @ 1:04 pm:
Benton is referring all questions to his legal counsel, the Honorable Louis Lang. Lou knows this process.
- Think Again - Wednesday, Mar 11, 26 @ 1:06 pm:
=My guess is we will learn more post-March 17=
Dude should come out with his side asap ( even a non-denial denail), if he doesn’t, it gives Gabby Shanahan his GOP opponent tons of ammo for general, making him look like a political opportunist and ethically weak.
- SFE - Wednesday, Mar 11, 26 @ 1:10 pm:
Genuine question - is it appropriate to have someone share information about an ongoing investigation?
- Responsa - Wednesday, Mar 11, 26 @ 1:11 pm:
In this day and age it’s really hard to stay radio silent. All is needed is a quick google search. I suppose someone has a non voted on replacement in mind if Benton has to withdraw following the primary and before the general.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Mar 11, 26 @ 1:11 pm:
===What are voters supposed to do===
A duly elected legislator was stripped of all his committee assignments and banned from all meetings of the super-majority caucus without the slightest bit of information, and you’re talking about the primary and voters?
C’mon.
- short memory - Wednesday, Mar 11, 26 @ 1:23 pm:
Anyone with eyes can see this is a political ploy, but it’s overtly sexist to call out these 3 women and no one else.
The question of what happened should be directed to HARRY BENTON. Full stop. If there’s an investigation by the House Dems or Legislative Inspector General the only person who can confirm or deny it is Benton. Legislators do not have a constitutional or statutory right to serve on committees or participate in political caucuses. It’s a privilege granted by the elected leadership. There are no constitutional or statutory ways to “punish” a member other than expulsion. The Speaker’s decision to remove Benton from the privilege of participating in committees and caucus is within his sole discretion. Why he was removed is mostly irrelevant.
You want answers, pressure Benton to answer questions.
- Fluctus Campus - Wednesday, Mar 11, 26 @ 1:26 pm:
As far as I know, the decision to boot Benton from the Caucus and strip him of committee assignments was Speaker Welch’s, and Speaker Welch’s alone? Does the Caucus vote on this?
Not one Republican asked questions when former Congressman Tim Johnson was stripped of his House committee assignments.
No one ever dug too deep into Cal Skinner, as I recall.
Rumors about Lou Lang turned out to be just that.
Emil Jones III? Acquitted.
Senator Mike Hastings? Re-elected.
Who knows why Benton was booted? I am sure we will find out. Maybe it was salacious, maybe it was political, we just don’t know.
But given that Trump is witholding tens of thousands of Epstein documents, we know he is witholding them, and there’s been not a peep from the House Republicans, my advice is Democrats tell the GOP to remove the plank from their own eye.
“I won’t be lectured on morality or transparency by the party that is defying an act of Congress and protecting pedophiles by withholding the Epstein files.”
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Mar 11, 26 @ 1:27 pm:
That’s an appropriate username, short memory, because you’ve apparently forgotten 2018.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Mar 11, 26 @ 1:31 pm:
Also, a general warning: If you’re coming in here to try to change the subject… don’t.
- DuPage Saint - Wednesday, Mar 11, 26 @ 1:43 pm:
If there is an ongoing investigation and we should wait for answered why is he already removed from caucus and committees?
That is like punishment first, investigate later.
- KBS - Wednesday, Mar 11, 26 @ 1:54 pm:
Sorry if this is an obvious question, but why are they singling out 3 female legislators? Why aren’t they slamming every House Democrat?
- Fluctus Campus - Wednesday, Mar 11, 26 @ 1:55 pm:
=== That is like punishment first, investigate later. ===
In fairness to Speaker Welch, if there was a complaint made by a member of his own staff, he might be waiting for the outcome of an independent investigstion. A victim might have asked that the issue be kept confidential.
At the same time, as an employer his HR lawyer might have advised him to limit Benton’s interactions with staff to the degree legally permitted. Basically like putting someone on Administrative Leave.
Obviously he cannot keep Benton from attending session.
But the rest of it falls under Welch’s jurisdiction.
Again, we just don’t know, but the truth will always come out.
- short memory - Wednesday, Mar 11, 26 @ 1:55 pm:
== That’s an appropriate username, short memory, because you’ve apparently forgotten 2018. ==
Are you insinuating Benton’s ouster is related to MeeToo or harassment issues? No one has confirmed that rumor.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Mar 11, 26 @ 2:00 pm:
===Are you insinuating===
I’m just saying that some of the lessons learned in 2018 are being forgotten.
Again, don’t try to change the subject here.
- JS Mill - Wednesday, Mar 11, 26 @ 2:05 pm:
First, the ilgop has no high ground here and I cannot ever again take the gop seriously on issues like this.
Second, Benton is the one that has the chance to say a something here and should be the one if he has any desire to clear his name.
- Dotnonymous x - Wednesday, Mar 11, 26 @ 2:07 pm:
- Illinois families expect accountability from the people they elect. -
That doesn’t include those who have totally lost faith in the current corporate controlled political system.
- Excitable Boy - Wednesday, Mar 11, 26 @ 2:16 pm:
- it’s overtly sexist to call out these 3 women and no one else. -
I’m no ILGOP apologist but these are targeted races. I’m actually surprised someone over there had the drive to do something worthwhile for a change.
The tock is clicking for someone to step up and face the music. If Benton won’t do it, Welch needs to lay his cards out and protect his members.
- TheInvisibleMan - Wednesday, Mar 11, 26 @ 2:28 pm:
–
Harry has no state Rep. primary opposition
–
His house seat isn’t the only thing he’s running for in this primary.
He’s also on my primary ballot with two other people for State Central Committeeperson.
Add onto that the Central Committee is populated by the public electing one male and one female per district. Other than Harry, there is one other male Michael Crowner, and one other female Christine Benson in this primary election.
Seems extremely relevant why there’s silence from his party, and at the same time even more reason for the public to have answers before the primary.
- Candy Dogood - Wednesday, Mar 11, 26 @ 2:36 pm:
===If Benton won’t do it, Welch needs to lay his cards out and protect his members.===
The Legislature is still an employer and in some cases the employee would have privacy rights, but if nothing is done to create the appearance of transparency and accountability I would expect this to become a general election issue including discussions about whether Welch is fit to remain Speaker.
We’re a state that has to live with unanswered questions, like that “rape in Champaign.” We should have zero tolerance to leaders creating more unanswered questions.
- Skokie Man - Wednesday, Mar 11, 26 @ 2:47 pm:
=== Representatives Murri Briel, Suzanne Ness, and Katie Stuart… ===
Why are these three reps being singled out for not speaking out publicly? Is it just political gamesmanship?
- Nagidam - Wednesday, Mar 11, 26 @ 2:48 pm:
Most likely there is a Legislative Inspector General investigation that initially started with a complaint of some type to Speaker Welch. Which is why he took action. The Speaker followed preexisting law and had this complaint sent to the LIG. If that is indeed the case, then at some point the investigation will conclude and a “Founded” report will or won’t be forwarded. We all want answers, but it seems to me the process is playing out the way the law intended.
- Illiana - Wednesday, Mar 11, 26 @ 3:08 pm:
While we still don’t know the cause of this, I think most of us have heard the rumors. While Republicans overall don’t have great standing, I think a lot of people here are forgetting how the HRO handled the accusations against former Rep. Jerry Long. He was a tier one race and when accused of sexual harassment by a campaign staffer, they publicly announced pulling support and they lost that seat. Interesting enough, his old seat is now held by one of the Reps they are calling out for being silent.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Mar 11, 26 @ 3:12 pm:
===Why are these three reps being singled out===
Your answer is at the very top of this post.
- System Reboot - Wednesday, Mar 11, 26 @ 4:10 pm:
Could this also be less to do with the election, but rather they’ll address it with the caucus first when the House is in session and then release more information post-caucus meeting? I know it’s all conjecture at this point
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Mar 11, 26 @ 4:15 pm:
===but rather they’ll address it with the caucus first when the House is in session===
The House was in session when this went down.
- Skokie Man - Wednesday, Mar 11, 26 @ 4:32 pm:
=== Your answer is at the very top of this post. ===
Right… I guess I didn’t phrase my question well. Why has the IL GOP targeted these three reps specifically? I know it is partisan, just trying to understand why these three rather than others.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Mar 11, 26 @ 5:08 pm:
===Why has the IL GOP targeted these three reps specifically===
They’re targets for November.