* Rep. Kelly Cassidy…
The Legislative Inspector General’s report tells a disturbing story of a persistent culture of sexual harassment in Springfield–and of the utter failure of our system of accountability. Based on this report, it is even more clear that Rep. Benton’s resignation was just–but he should have been forced to leave our workplace far earlier, before he was able to do so much additional harm to more women.
Then, there is the matter of process. The Speaker’s staff were made aware of egregious sexual harassment at the hands of former Rep. Benton. The victim understandably declined to follow the guidance to take her case to the Legislative Inspector General. The process can be intimidating, as I know firsthand. But the Speaker’s explanation that his office did nothing more to pursue accountability for or reduce potential further harm from Rep. Benton because the victim did not want to go to the LIG is insufficient. There were other steps available to the Speaker to protect other staff and ensure accountability for Rep. Benton that we have seen employed in cases of other members over the years. We know that, because the Speaker has now, three years later, pursued those steps, and has done so apparently without the victim’s express permission.
From the LIG report, here is what is clear:
● The Speaker’s Office filed a complaint in March 2026 regarding Rep. Benton’s behavior after making initial contact with the LIG’s office in February.
● That complaint did, apparently, include the former Benton staffer’s experience, despite her reported insistence that her case not be brought before the LIG. We can debate whether or not her wishes should have been respected–but the argument the Speaker has been making, which is that he took no action for nearly three years out of respect for her wishes, does not hold up to scrutiny.
● The LIG filing from Speaker Welch’s Office also included two other complaints about Rep. Benton’s behavior toward women. It is unclear whether those two women agreed to have their cases included in the LIG complaint, or whether the Speaker’s team even asked them what they wanted. The Speaker should clarify this, and what his office’s standard procedure for such complaints will be going forward.
● Had the Speaker intervened meaningfully in 2023, he may have been able to prevent the victimization of the other two women, who were harassed in May 2025 and January 2026, respectively. Instead, $1.4 million was spent to reelect Benton to his seat in 2024.
Just as important is the question of what was not addressed in the report, which is the matter of Speaker Welch’s inappropriate conduct toward the former staffer of Rep. Benton.
The woman came to the Speaker for advice, and he told her to move their communication to an encrypted app, where he asked her to meet him at a bar. Even if the Speaker did not intend to send flirtatious signals, or to generate pressure on a young woman he had already indicated he found attractive, the effect of his behavior was to make her uncomfortable. I encourage the Speaker to acknowledge that publicly and apologize to the woman for his conduct. If we are going to be able to move forward in earnest, that is a necessary step. This young woman, like so many before her, chose to leave our workplace entirely. We should all view that as a loss not just for her–but for all of us who want what’s best for our state.
The Speaker must demonstrate a sincere desire to repair the harm he has done, and to correct the broken system in which we are all operating. To date, that has not been the spirit of his response. Instead, we have heard a series of excuses, victim blaming, and a failure to publicly acknowledge shortcomings. That has been disappointing. Efforts to make changes to the laws and procedures around inappropriate behavior in the Capitol must center the experiences of victims. Unless we examine these policies through the eyes and experiences of the people we’re intending to protect, we will continue to fall short.
Finally, I am alarmed by the rebuttal to this report filed by the lobbyist who was sexually harassed by Rep. Benton in January 2026. She lays out numerous errors written into the account of her experience by LIG McCuskey. The LEC has made clear that the summary report is the result of interviews with at least two dozen individuals, and there may be variations in their recollections. But we can not disregard her concerns and should begin from a place of believing a victim’s account.
Ensuring that victims feel safe coming forward, whether to their Ethics Officer or the LIG, requires us to create mechanisms that protect their stories, their confidentiality, and their belief that they have access to recourse in the face of abusive behavior in the workplace.
- Granite - Friday, Jul 31, 26 @ 1:32 pm:
In 2002, Welch was accused in a police report of slamming his ex-girlfriend’s head into a countertop because she called him a “loser”.
I’m surprised he became speaker after those allegations. The early 2020s were a strange time.
- Levois - Friday, Jul 31, 26 @ 1:35 pm:
I don’t know if anyone would agree, but I’m getting flashbacks…
- Simon - Friday, Jul 31, 26 @ 1:35 pm:
== the Speaker has now, three years later, pursued those steps, and has done so apparently without the victim’s express permission ==
That’s a really good point. Why go forward without permission on one, but not the other?
And Cassidy is spot on about the importance of what wasn’t in the report: Welch’s entirely inappropriate flirtations with the Benton’s victim. That is the worst part of this entire mess and the Speaker still hasn’t publicly addressed it.
I’m surprised she didn’t call for his resignation.
- @misterjayem - Friday, Jul 31, 26 @ 1:37 pm:
As Rep. Cassidy explains in great detail, Chris Welch’s response to the reports of Rep. Benton’s inexcusable behavior was too little and too late.
As a wise man once observed, “Justice too long delayed is justice denied.”
– MrJM
- Blazzzer - Friday, Jul 31, 26 @ 1:40 pm:
Kelly Cassidy for Speaker
- Well well well - Friday, Jul 31, 26 @ 1:45 pm:
Welch’s time is done. He needs to step down as speaker. Get ahead of people calling for your resignation.
- Sue - Friday, Jul 31, 26 @ 1:47 pm:
Welch thinks his newest BFF Ms Gates is his insurance policy but Welch’s future as speaker is coming to an abrupt end if he continues to force JB into a corner on CPS funding and his demand for progressive revenue
- It's always Sunny in Illinois - Friday, Jul 31, 26 @ 1:49 pm:
Gloves are off…..bare knuckles from this point forward…
- Change Agent - Friday, Jul 31, 26 @ 1:49 pm:
Once again, Rep. Cassidy sets the standard by which all legislators should be judged. Can we just award the Golden Horseshoe now?
- Rich Miller - Friday, Jul 31, 26 @ 1:50 pm:
===That’s a really good point. Why go forward without permission on one, but not the other?===
Also, if his reason for not making things public in 2023 is the victim didn’t want it, why submit it to the LIG against her wishes?
- Tom - Friday, Jul 31, 26 @ 1:59 pm:
My hat is off to Cassidy. She brings up valid, moving points. She also isn’t afraid to speak her truth. And it’s not like she was an enemy of Welch’s; granted, she didn’t initially vote for him, but I’ve seen Facebook photos of the two of them. Way different relationship than she had with Madigan and his COS. So bravo for the consistency in her beliefs regardless of the people involved.
- Operation Tug - Friday, Jul 31, 26 @ 2:11 pm:
Not even his 150M “gift” to the CTU can save him now.
- Send it in - Friday, Jul 31, 26 @ 2:12 pm:
Rep. Cassidy poised to take down yet another Speaker. This one not nearly as powerful as the last.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Jul 31, 26 @ 2:15 pm:
===Rep. Cassidy poised===
Years ago at dinner, Mike McClain started talking about her and I said if you keep poking that little bear, she’s gonna rise up and bite your head off. He laughed and laughed.
Oops.
- Excitable Boy - Friday, Jul 31, 26 @ 2:21 pm:
Given the circumstances of Welch becoming Speaker in the first place, this has to be some of the dumbest decision making I’ve ever seen, and all to protect a highly mediocre freshman legislator.
Sorry Speaker, but I think your time is up.
- charles in charge - Friday, Jul 31, 26 @ 2:32 pm:
==Given the circumstances of Welch becoming Speaker in the first place, this has to be some of the dumbest decision making I’ve ever seen, and all to protect a highly mediocre freshman legislator.==
“Highly mediocre” seems awfully generous, but otherwise I agree 100%.
- DuPage Saint - Friday, Jul 31, 26 @ 2:37 pm:
@simmon you made an excellent point the Speaker’s google eyes and let’s meet at bar thing to a person claiming sexual harassment is really really dumb, inexcusable, and creepy, yet this is not being addressed. However I think this will hurt him badly
- Rich Miller - Friday, Jul 31, 26 @ 2:38 pm:
===and all to protect a highly mediocre freshman legislator===
Yeah, and if you’ll recall, the HDems blatantly lied in that race to help Benton win
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2024/11/01/democrats-harry-benton-deploy-disinformation-97th-house-district-race-southwest-suburbs-rich-miller
- Original Rambler - Friday, Jul 31, 26 @ 2:53 pm:
I join the chorus of those clamoring for Welch’s removal as speaker. The “meet at a bar” thing alone is disqualifying. Welch seems like she’d be a terrific choice…which is why I’m confident she has no chance.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Jul 31, 26 @ 3:02 pm:
===she’d be a terrific choice===
Highly doubt she’s interested in that.
- Ethics Police - Friday, Jul 31, 26 @ 3:21 pm:
= That complaint did, apparently, include the former Benton staffer’s experience, despite her reported insistence that her case not be brought before the LIG. We can debate whether or not her wishes should have been respected–but the argument the Speaker has been making, which is that he took no action for nearly three years out of respect for her wishes, does not hold up to scrutiny.=
By including the 2023 allegations and the other 2 allegations was that the Speaker’s attempt at showing there was a SERIES of allegations, but no attempt to cover up the allegations? Go check out the Ethics Act for the significance or the reference. Can we get and answer to this question?
The LIG points out the statute of limitations had expired on the 2023 case, so WHY did he interview Benton and the former COS and Ethics Officer? WHY. And why include “ Even though the one-year statute of limitations has passed on this portion of the March 4, 2026 complaint, I included it as a matter of pattern and practice of sexual harassment occurring during the entirety of Harry Benton’s career as a member of the General Assembly.” For something that the 1yr had expired, it appears the the LIG spent a lot of time on the 2023 allegation. WHY?
If the former COS and former ethics officer waited until July 2023 to talk to Benton and they were made aware of FACT that Benton sent the Zoom invite & wrote “know that we reiterated the severity of the retaliation” then why didn’t the LIG since he interviewed Benton on the 2023 case report that Benton did retaliate against the victim?
This investigation and report by the LIG is embarrassing!! Honestly, it’s like an investigation and report done by a mall cop.
In the section about the Unity Event, it only says he interviewed Benton. Who reported this case? Was it the Speaker as a SERIES of allegations against Benton? Was the victim interviewed? Was the individual that intervened interviewed? If this wasn’t part of a SERIES, by the Speaker, they why isn’t this founded allegation a separate complaint? Where was the duty to act immediately?
And to the most unprofessional part of this report. Page 6: My veteran investigator who was present with me during the interview said, “I believe he lied.” I responded that I know he lied as well because I have interviewed all three individuals in person and I believe the lobbyist and the bystander are truthful.
Sheesh. This should have never been included in this report. Without the facts to back up their beliefs that Benton lied, this makes me question how the LIG conducted the other interviewed and arrived at factual determinations. Then to go on an read the lobbyist’s statement that the LIG didn’t completely have the fact correct. My ethical conclusion is that McCuskey should no longer be LIG. I researched his term and it is up in 2028. He either needs to take a refresher course on conducting investigations or report writing bc this report is embarrassing.
This report doesn’t not show that proper protocol was followed..in fact it raises MORE questions on how each of these cases were handled by the Speaker’s Office and by the LIG.
- Retired School Board Member - Friday, Jul 31, 26 @ 3:30 pm:
We are going to see who among us genuinely believe in standing against this abuse when doing so proves to be a rather inconvenient burden. Who among the House Dems will put their money where their mouth has been when it comes to standing with women? Watch as people show us who they really are.
- Purple - Friday, Jul 31, 26 @ 3:32 pm:
Send it in, there were 19 house members that went through heck to remove MJM. It is insulting to 18 legislators to say Kelly did it. I would hope even Kelly would correct you on this.
- Billy the Kid - Friday, Jul 31, 26 @ 4:01 pm:
Mr. Welch must step down; he has a tarnished personal record and has failed not only the victim but also in his role as speaker. It was not Mr. Benton who raised the issue; it was Mr. Benton’s actions, including (in collusion) with Mr. Welch’s. It was a dual horrific issue.
- Amalia - Friday, Jul 31, 26 @ 4:10 pm:
if any of us had conducted ourselves in a job the way emoji man has, we’d be done. time to go Welch. gotta find someone professional and moderate to take the spot.
- King Louis XVI - Friday, Jul 31, 26 @ 4:32 pm:
–dumbest decision making I’ve ever seen, and all to protect a highly mediocre freshman–
I’d only quibble with the word “to protect” because it implies a pro-active effort on Welch’s part. Given his seemingly insaitiable, around-the-clock need to fill his Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, TikTok accounts with heroic banality, I’d assume that he was just indifferent to the staffer’s plight. It just didn’t register or couldn’t compete with a new TikTok video.