* Background is here if you need it. You really gotta hand it to Isabel. Check out this exchange with House Speaker Chris Welch during his victory press conference last night…

Isabel: Speaker, should Harry Benton resign?

Welch: We’re not going to have that topic of conversation today. We’re going to talk about what happened here today.

Isabel: I mean, he was here today.

[Cross talk.]

Jerry Nowicki: Isn’t it time to address it?

Jeremy Gorner: He’s an elected official. We just want to know what’s going on.

Reporter: He’s got an election coming up.

Rich: Should he resign?

Isabel: Should he resign?

Welch: At the proper time.

Isabel: When is that?

Welch: At the proper time that information will come out.

Reporter: Is that after May 31?

Welch: So there is a process in place. You’ve heard me say this before. People are entitled to due process. There is a process in place that guarantees every one of us due process, and we’re going to allow that process to play out. And I think part of that is not coming out and speaking to the press about something and folks are entitled to due process. But also want to underscore something very important, and we shared this with the caucus, we also have to talk about victims and what they’re entitled to. Coming out and talking to reporters about a process that’s ongoing is not the proper thing to do, and so we’re going to respect due process. We’re going to respect victims. We’re going to respect people’s rights. It’s not to disrespect all of you. I respect what all of you do to the nth degree. As a former member of the media, thank you for what you do. But we have let this process play out.

[Crosstalk]

Reporter: Two members of Congress just resigned.

[Crosstalk. Welch walks back into his office suite.]

* Tribune…

Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch reluctantly broke his silence Wednesday on his decision to strip a Democratic lawmaker of key caucus duties two months ago, acknowledging for the first time that the rights of “victims” were involved, while declining to discuss specifics.

Welch’s comments came while he spoke with reporters outside his state Capitol office following a lengthy House session. Welch made it clear he hoped to focus on the day’s legislative victories, including the House’s passage of a bill aiding the Chicago Bears’ proposed move to Arlington Heights. When asked whether state Rep. Harry Benton of Plainfield should resign, Welch initially tried to sidestep the question.