* Background is here if you need it. Chicago Tribune today…
Members of the Legislative Ethics Commission, the bipartisan eight-member panel made up of four Democratic and four Republican state lawmakers that reviews inspector general reports, are scheduled to meet Thursday and could vote to make the Benton report public.
Many of the commission members had no comment on the Tribune’s investigation, citing the confidentiality of their work, though one member, Republican Jil Tracy of Quincy, said, without elaborating, that the [Tribune] story “was far worse than the report.”
“My thought was, even before this (article) I was thinking the Republicans would probably vote to release it, and I have to think too that the Democrats would seriously think about it as well,” she said. “I think that everybody’s had enough. The truth is, it’s already out there.”
Tracy said that the details in the Tribune report point to potentially making one change in state law to extend the statute of limitations on what actions an inspector general can investigate to as many as four years from the current one-year limit.
Emphasis added because… what the heck?
* Here’s the statement we received from Speaker Welch’s office this weekend…
The Legislative Inspector General’s independent investigation into former Representative Benton provides a full and accurate account of the steps my office took to support those who came forward. The Legislative Ethics Commission has sole authority to release the report, and I encourage the Commission to do so in a manner it deems appropriate, with every necessary safeguard to protect the privacy and dignity of the individuals who courageously spoke out. Protecting potential victims and the due process rights of those accused remain concerns for members and are areas we need to consider as we look for ways to improve.
* WCIA…
“The reporting today just really kind of gives us more questions about what’s been going on, especially how long did Speaker Welch know about it?” said House Minority Leader Tony McCombie.
According to statements made by the victims — who were not named in the Tribune’s article –Welch first became aware of Benton’s problems in 2023 when a 22-year-old staffer reported harassment, much of which was sexual in nature, to Welch’s office.
But the Chicago Tribune’s investigation found Welch didn’t even interview Benton about the harassment until three months after it was reported, and ultimately choose not to discipline him. Welch would go on to financially support Benton in his 2024 re-election campaign. It wasn’t until a second victim reported Benton in February of this year that Welch took action.
“He invested millions of dollars to get him re-elected, even after knowing about this conduct to put him back into place. So he probably… did he not want that to come out? Obviously not,” said McCombie
…Adding… Isabel ran the numbers and came up with this…
Since the 2023 date when Speaker Welch was scheduled to have that July meeting with Benton, Democrats for the Illinois House contributed $1,407,918 to Benton’s campaign
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Monday, Jul 20, 26 @ 10:58 am:
I do not know all the facts, but anytime a public official communicates on Signal, it is a red flag to me.
- VK - Monday, Jul 20, 26 @ 11:10 am:
To be fair to the LIG, I would imagine that, much like the rest of us, they failed to put money down on “The Speaker is hiding information about this because he himself also has a troubled past with the same victim”.
Because considering how the last speaker fell, I’m sure the LIG could never have imagined a staff of humans being this remarkably stupid and an elected official being this drunk on his own hubris.
Hindsight is a heck of a thing.
- Candy Dogood - Monday, Jul 20, 26 @ 11:18 am:
So, uh, did the Speaker’s office delay an LIG referral until after the statute of limitations had passed for the details that are “far worse” than the LIG report?
Is that something that Speaker Welch would do?
Is this an example of that “Chicago Way” people like to justify, or like, just a happy accident?
===I do not know all the facts, but anytime a public official communicates on Signal, it is a red flag to me.===
You gotta watch out because the current standard for being guilty of domestic terrorism in the United States is communicating on Signal. It’s a quick jump to peer to peer end to end encryption means you’re guilty to 30 years for printing Zines.
- Anon - Monday, Jul 20, 26 @ 11:34 am:
The Trib spoke to both the former staffer and the lobbyist, but did the LIG?
- SAP - Monday, Jul 20, 26 @ 11:42 am:
$1.4 Mil…pretty soon you’re talking about real money.
- New Day - Monday, Jul 20, 26 @ 11:49 am:
“I do not know all the facts, but anytime a public official communicates on Signal, it is a red flag to me.”
Don’t agree. Given how much the Trump administration snoops on people, I don’t blame them in general. I’ve got a member of Congress I use signal with and it’s extremely innocuous and purely political.
- Amalia - Monday, Jul 20, 26 @ 11:58 am:
let’s just say if my husband was communicating the way the Speaker did with her there would be a big problem. what the what Speaker?????
- Rich Miller - Monday, Jul 20, 26 @ 11:59 am:
=== I use signal with===
I am in one Signal group chat, and it’s because one member of our text chat didn’t have an iPhone, so we couldn’t send each other pdf files, etc. It’s also not a disappearing chat.
- Think Again - Monday, Jul 20, 26 @ 12:00 pm:
=Tribune] story “was far worse than the report=
Of course, my thoughts first go out to two victims of Benton’s alleged abuse. But man, the Trib article sure makes Welch look bad
“The speaker’s office also said the former staffer was not an employee of Welch’s office at the time of their social media interactions and that “their cordial relationship pre-dated Representative Benton, with dialogues spanning from advice, support, and even the complainant offering tips for the Speaker and his wife’s travel itinerary.”
- Capitol Caravan - Monday, Jul 20, 26 @ 12:10 pm:
=== The Trib spoke to both the former staffer and the lobbyist, but did the LIG? ===
It’s a good question. The Trib story on Friday appears to suggest, unless I’m missing something, that the LIG report focused on the complaint brought by the lobbyist and not necessarily the complaint brought by the former staffer. It seems conceivable that the LIG did not delve into the matters relating to the former staffer. Perhaps that is what Sen. Tracy is expressing.
- Taco Man - Monday, Jul 20, 26 @ 12:15 pm:
What in the world? How did the Benton case come to ensnare the Speaker? He asked to meet with the former intern at a bar and communicate with the young individual using an encrypted tool? From the beginning to the end, let alone at home with his wife, but politically?
- Polibug - Monday, Jul 20, 26 @ 12:16 pm:
Kind of frustrated that very few state legislators are commenting on the Tribune story, especially those who spoke out about this type of behavior/situation under Madigan. Where is the outrage for yet another Speaker and his office’s mishandling credible harassment claims? Where are the calls for change to ensure staffers are not abused again? Aside from Rep. Croke and Rep. LaPointe, not seeing anything.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Jul 20, 26 @ 12:20 pm:
===especially those who spoke out about this type of behavior/situation under Madigan===
The 19 did not emerge overnight. This will take some time.
- 4th and Never - Monday, Jul 20, 26 @ 12:23 pm:
“Perhaps”
IIRC, the trib makes it clear the original staffer didn’t participate in the current 2026 investigation. That being said, I’m guessing there’s a bill of particulars in that report that references the events of 2023.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Jul 20, 26 @ 12:24 pm:
===I’m guessing there’s a bill of particulars in that report that references the events of 2023===
Maybe not.
- Arvey's Legacy - Monday, Jul 20, 26 @ 12:57 pm:
The Croke comments are gratuitous and opportunistic in that she is already departing the House. The more interesting takes are from LaPointe and Stava. It’s disappointing that we haven’t heard from other members of the caucus yet, but as Rich mentioned it’s still early …
- Well well well - Monday, Jul 20, 26 @ 1:06 pm:
Welch needs to step down as speaker. No excuses.
- Norseman - Monday, Jul 20, 26 @ 1:19 pm:
Isabel’s find, that one will hurt.
- Friendly Bob Adams - Monday, Jul 20, 26 @ 1:20 pm:
A very bad situation for Welch. I’ve been trying to think of the best possible outcome for him and can’t really think of one.
- Capitol Caravan - Monday, Jul 20, 26 @ 1:29 pm:
=== Croke comments are gratuitous and opportunistic in that she is already departing the House. The more interesting takes are from LaPointe and Stava. ===
Stava was the only of the three to directly criticize the speaker:
“I think Speaker Welch has some thinking to do about the way he interacts with younger women. Because I don’t think he should have put himself in the position that he’s in right now,” she said.
She upped the ante. The question now is whether others will follow.
- Frida's Boss - Monday, Jul 20, 26 @ 1:30 pm:
The time it will take for the next 19 to come forward will be after the election. Remember, most of the funding for the House apparatus comes from Welch’s campaign fund, not the Caucus or the Party. They’re not going to find the courage while an election is going on, and the candidates in the suburbs need that money.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Jul 20, 26 @ 1:46 pm:
===They’re not going to find the courage while an election is going on, and the candidates in the suburbs need that money.===
I take no position on the rest of your post, but which suburban Democratic incumbents are targets and in real danger of losing?
Did you not read this? https://capitolfax.com/2026/07/20/man-thats-downright-pathetic/
- Soccer Coach - Monday, Jul 20, 26 @ 1:48 pm:
“Oh, what a tangled web we weave, When first we practice to deceive,”
- Resign - Monday, Jul 20, 26 @ 1:49 pm:
==The 19 did not emerge overnight. This will take some time.==
It might behoove some reporters to start reaching out to members to get their take before talking points get circulated.
- Soccer Coach - Monday, Jul 20, 26 @ 1:54 pm:
“What did the Speaker know, and when did he know it?”
- Soccer Coach - Monday, Jul 20, 26 @ 2:00 pm:
I can’t see the Chicago slate supporting his removal as Speaker. The collar counties might not either.
- Just Asking - Monday, Jul 20, 26 @ 2:10 pm:
People would have stoned Madigan in public if he sent heart eyes to a staffer or asked to work things out with a victim at a bar. Where is Representative Cassidy?
- Bagger Vance - Monday, Jul 20, 26 @ 2:26 pm:
=== Where’s Representative Cassidy? ===
On the Legislative Ethics Commission.
Being “mum”, as she should be, for now.
Where are Mayfield, Gordon-Booth, Canty, Davis, Ford and Buckner?
- Remember the Alamo II - Monday, Jul 20, 26 @ 2:35 pm:
=== Where are Mayfield, Gordon-Booth, Canty, Davis, Ford and Buckner? ===
You tryin to pick a fight with the Black caucus Bagger Vance? Probably not going to win that fight.
- 47th Ward - Monday, Jul 20, 26 @ 2:52 pm:
===People would have stoned Madigan in public if he sent heart eyes to a staffer…===
Lol. Imagining Madigan on social media makes me smile. Which emoji best conveys “you’ll be fine?”
- New Day - Monday, Jul 20, 26 @ 2:55 pm:
“Lol. Imagining Madigan on social media makes me smile. Which emoji best conveys “you’ll be fine?”
An apple of course.
- Not Your Gramma - Monday, Jul 20, 26 @ 3:15 pm:
By tonight we will know Benton’s replacement for House. Let’s hope the pressure stays on and that we get him out of ALL of his elected offices (township highway commissioner). And as far as Welch goes, I guarantee that the woman in question wasn’t the only one he ever sent smiley heart eyed emojis to. If there’s one, there more.
- Bagger Vance - Monday, Jul 20, 26 @ 3:24 pm:
@Remember the Alamo -
I name six veteran lawmakers renowned for the ethics and independence, and all you see is “Black.”
Interesting.
- politico - Monday, Jul 20, 26 @ 3:40 pm:
I heard the story from Benton’s former district staffer in 2023 about him being a creep to her. It was a known fact that he was a creep and you should be careful around him. Funny enough, Benton ended up telling me at a later date that she quit his office because she got a better job. I didn’t say anything. Makes me wonder now if I should’ve done more. Unfortunate to say, but I assumed she didn’t go to anyone about it because she was worried about the consequences. Exactly what happened here.
- Remember the Alamo II - Monday, Jul 20, 26 @ 3:55 pm:
=== I name six veteran lawmakers renowned for the ethics and independence, and all you see is “Black.”
Interesting. ===
There are 118 Representatives in the Illinois House and you named six — all of which are members of the Black caucus. You aren’t as witty as you think you are.
- Overbay - Monday, Jul 20, 26 @ 4:08 pm:
The Illinois House of Representatives is a total mess.