In his virtual caucus meetings, Welch also addressed reporting in the Tribune revealing his interactions with the former Benton staffer on social media — which included him responding with heart-eye emojis to images of her — as well as a request over the Signal messaging app to meet in the bar area of a suburban restaurant.
Lawmakers said Welch acknowledged he was wrong to send the emojis, since the former staffer told the Tribune they made her uncomfortable, but he said he often holds meetings at that restaurant. The former Benton staffer previously was an intern in the speaker’s office.
One lawmaker said the emojis were highly inappropriate.
“All you can say is, ‘I’m sorry. It’s not gonna happen again,’ or like, you need to take action, like, accountability of your actions, but not say, ‘Oh, I didn’t know that … even an emoji was actually going to make her uncomfortable. If I would have known, I would have not done that,’” the lawmaker said. “If you leave that on someone else’s page that is significantly younger than you … as younger people, we know what that means.”
* House Republican Organization…
As questions continue to mount over what Speaker Chris Welch and his office knew about sexual harassment allegations against disgraced former State Representative Harry Benton, one question stands above the rest: Why did the Speaker spend more than $1.4 million to keep Benton in the House Democratic caucus?
It has now been five days since the Chicago Tribune reported that Speaker Welch’s office had been aware of allegations involving Benton dating back to 2023. Yet despite those allegations, Speaker Welch continued to support Benton’s reelection, pouring more than $1.4 million into his campaign to help keep him in office and in the Democratic caucus.
As Speaker Welch meets with members of his caucus this week, House Democrats should ask him the questions Illinoisans deserve answers to:
• If you knew about the allegations, why did you continue spending more than $1.4 million to reelect Harry Benton?
• Why did you fight to keep Benton in your caucus instead of protecting staff and holding him accountable?
• What did you know, when did you know it, and who else in your leadership team knew?
• Why did you tell the public the matter had been “handled” when Benton remained in office and continued receiving your political support?
• If the latest allegations were serious enough to ultimately force Benton’s resignation, why weren’t they serious enough to stop your campaign from spending $1.4 million to keep him in office?
• What message does spending $1.4 million to protect Harry Benton send to victims who come forward?
“Speaker Welch’s office knew about these allegations as early as 2023 and still spent $1.4 million to protect their political majority instead of protecting victims,” said Mark Cavers, Political Director for the House Republican Organization. “Speaker Welch has given Illinoisans 1.4 million reasons to question his judgement and exactly what he was trying to protect.”
Speaker Welch owes Illinoisans answers. And every Democrat who serves under his leadership should demand them.
I rate the ad an F-. Voters don’t vote directly on who’s Speaker. No one really cares about photos on Instagram . This is one of the dumbest videos I’ve ever seen. Ever.
This isn’t about the HRO. Stop deflecting and defending this disgusting behavior. And yes, he has two accounts. Not sure which ones these “likes” are coming from. Does it matter?
Someone should do some digging on Welches handling of the House Democrats campaign apparatus and the harassment that has taken place on the political side.
There’s a reason their staff contract has a clause about not ever disparaging the organization for up to two years after the contract ends.
And as we have seen the young woman at the center of this came up from the political organization before moving to state.
And as many caucus members have noted, this Speaker can’t find quality people to work the campaigns or stay involved.
“Voters don’t vote directly on who’s Speaker”. True.
But irrespective of what you think of the ad, its safe to say it was not put out there to target voters.
That is an odd paragraph to include in their contract. I suggest reporters ask for a copy.
==This is one of the dumbest videos I’ve ever seen. Ever.==
I suspect it was made to keep the story alive and passed around to media so they could post it. It will never be broadcast. For the purpose mentioned, it’s doing its job.
=But it might help take down the Speaker=
Exactly.
- Google is Your Friend - Wednesday, Jul 22, 26 @ 12:19 pm:
==as younger people, we know what that means.==
The truth, right now, is that we don’t know precisely what Welch meant sending those emojis. However, the idea that ‘everyone’ uses them the same way just isn’t true. There are real generational differences.
There is no helping Republicans until you can show you put points on the board. Take down a speaker and maybe a donor or two starts opening their wallet again.
Step one, make em believe something can be done.
- best in the world - Wednesday, Jul 22, 26 @ 12:23 pm:
comment “<3″ if you would let you daughter intern for Speaker Welch?
- Google is Your Friend - Wednesday, Jul 22, 26 @ 12:25 pm:
==The truth, right now, is that we don’t know precisely what Welch meant sending those emojis. However, the idea that ‘everyone’ uses them the same way just isn’t true. There are real generational differences.==
Please. Were you the person who bought Playboy for the “articles” too?
- Downstate - Wednesday, Jul 22, 26 @ 11:27 am:
Setting up a meeting in “the bar area of a restaurant” seems different than “holding meetings at that restaurant”.
Just the attempt to have that private meeting seems wrong on its face.
- Kettle - Wednesday, Jul 22, 26 @ 11:27 am:
If it’s open season on people’s social media likes; the HRO better make sure their own members are clean.
- Steve - Wednesday, Jul 22, 26 @ 11:28 am:
I rate the ad an F-. Voters don’t vote directly on who’s Speaker. No one really cares about photos on Instagram . This is one of the dumbest videos I’ve ever seen. Ever.
- Torco Sign - Wednesday, Jul 22, 26 @ 11:36 am:
Doesn’t he have a personal account to use?!?!?!?!
- River Heights PI - Wednesday, Jul 22, 26 @ 11:47 am:
==No one really cares about photos on Instagram==
Maybe not in your circles. To everyone else, especially young women, this is a big deal.
- FIREDup! - Wednesday, Jul 22, 26 @ 11:49 am:
This isn’t about the HRO. Stop deflecting and defending this disgusting behavior. And yes, he has two accounts. Not sure which ones these “likes” are coming from. Does it matter?
- Operation Tug - Wednesday, Jul 22, 26 @ 11:49 am:
Kettle-
We have detailed files of dirty old man behavior on instagram and quite frankly could care less if members of HRO get dragged for the same.
It’s a free fire zone.
- TrustWomen - Wednesday, Jul 22, 26 @ 11:50 am:
Someone should do some digging on Welches handling of the House Democrats campaign apparatus and the harassment that has taken place on the political side.
There’s a reason their staff contract has a clause about not ever disparaging the organization for up to two years after the contract ends.
And as we have seen the young woman at the center of this came up from the political organization before moving to state.
And as many caucus members have noted, this Speaker can’t find quality people to work the campaigns or stay involved.
- Salt Shaker - Wednesday, Jul 22, 26 @ 11:54 am:
“Voters don’t vote directly on who’s Speaker”. True.
But irrespective of what you think of the ad, its safe to say it was not put out there to target voters.
- Resign - Wednesday, Jul 22, 26 @ 12:01 pm:
That is an odd paragraph to include in their contract. I suggest reporters ask for a copy.
==This is one of the dumbest videos I’ve ever seen. Ever.==
I suspect it was made to keep the story alive and passed around to media so they could post it. It will never be broadcast. For the purpose mentioned, it’s doing its job.
- Amalia - Wednesday, Jul 22, 26 @ 12:09 pm:
the ad…oh my It won’t help Republicans. But it might help take down the Speaker.
- Resign - Wednesday, Jul 22, 26 @ 12:12 pm:
=But it might help take down the Speaker=
Exactly.
- Google is Your Friend - Wednesday, Jul 22, 26 @ 12:19 pm:
==as younger people, we know what that means.==
The truth, right now, is that we don’t know precisely what Welch meant sending those emojis. However, the idea that ‘everyone’ uses them the same way just isn’t true. There are real generational differences.
https://www.uoc.edu/en/news/2020/437-teenagers-adults-social-media-inappropriate-use
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9161290/
- Operation Tug - Wednesday, Jul 22, 26 @ 12:19 pm:
There is no helping Republicans until you can show you put points on the board. Take down a speaker and maybe a donor or two starts opening their wallet again.
Step one, make em believe something can be done.
- best in the world - Wednesday, Jul 22, 26 @ 12:23 pm:
comment “<3″ if you would let you daughter intern for Speaker Welch?
- Google is Your Friend - Wednesday, Jul 22, 26 @ 12:25 pm:
==- TrustWomen - Wednesday, Jul 22, 26 @ 11:50 am:==
==And as we have seen the young woman at the center of this came up from the political organization before moving to state.==
Not true.
- Operation Tug - Wednesday, Jul 22, 26 @ 12:27 pm:
==The truth, right now, is that we don’t know precisely what Welch meant sending those emojis. However, the idea that ‘everyone’ uses them the same way just isn’t true. There are real generational differences.==
Please. Were you the person who bought Playboy for the “articles” too?