After the Legislative Inspector General report issued Friday revealed mishandling of sexual harassment complaints by House Speaker Chris Welch, the House Republican women released the following statement:
“Speaker Welch promised the LIG report released Friday would show the Speaker’s office acted appropriately. Unfortunately, that is not true.
“The report found additional victims Speaker Welch knew about years before taking action. The record is worse than anyone knew, raising serious questions about his leadership. This report will also deter victims from coming forward in the future, knowing their complaints may not be taken seriously.
“There must be an immediate independent investigation into Speaker Welch’s office and his handling of these allegations.
“Every State Representative and public official in Illinois should join us in calling for Speaker Welch to step down.”
House Republican women include Tony McCombie, Norine Hammond, Jackie Haas, Amy Elik, Amy Grant, Jennifer Sanalitro, Nicole La Ha, and Regan Deering.
The super-majority House Democrats do not, as a rule, like taking the advice of Republicans, so I’m not sure what impact this will have.
* The HRO is putting only a few dollars (like $100 each) behind these ads. HRO…
Following Jessica Dixon Heitman’s reversal in saying she would accept support from embattled Speaker Chris Welch, the House Republican Organization is releasing a new digital ad highlighting her willingness to accept support from a leader accused of covering up sexual harassment allegations.
“Jessica Dixon Heitman had the opportunity to stand up to the wrongdoing within her own party, but instead she chose to fall in line with the political machine,” said Mark Cavers, Political Director for the House Republican Organization. “How can voters trust her judgment if she’s willing to accept support from someone accused of covering up sexual harassment allegations involving her former boss? The 97th District deserves leadership rooted in transparency and accountability, not more silence and political cover-ups.”
Speaker Welch knew about sexual harassment allegations and tried to cover them up. Now, Jessica Dixon-Heitman says she’ll still take his money anyway. That says everything about her judgment. She’s putting power over principle, politics over integrity. Jessica Dixon-Heitman, you just can’t trust her.
* HRO…
As Katie Stuart continues to refuse to speak out against embattled Speaker Chris Welch, the House Republican Organization is releasing a new ad today highlighting Stuart’s silence and her pattern of looking the other way when leaders in her own party face scandals.
“Staying silent is nothing new for Katie Stuart,” said Mark Cavers, Political Director for the House Republican Organization. “Just as she did during the Madigan era, Stuart is once again looking the other way while the leader of her caucus faces serious questions over covering up sexual harassment allegations. If she won’t speak up when it matters most, why should voters trust her to stand up for them?”
Katie Stuart loves to look the other way. Call out Michael Madigan? Not a word. Speak out against Speaker Welch over his cover-up? More silence. Katie Stuart is silent when it matters most. Katie Stuart, too weak to lead, too silent to trust.
If this was 20 years ago or maybe even 15 these ads, which are good, might have made a difference. There is no viable Republican Party in the collar counties and hence this is a thoroughly Democratic state. The fault is the Republicans they want a purity party and they got one. They can have their party convention in a pup tent. I was is life long Republican I have voted for Democrats more in the last few elections than ever before in my life. I find that sad
The longer the Dems whistle past the graveyard, the more this becomes an issue that could move undecided voters in the fall to the GOP. Dems need to take action on the failure to address harassment issues within their own tent.
There’s still an opportunity for the Dem Caucus to take the moral higher ground here. For Republicans that shipped sailed many years ago. So you’ll have to forgive me for not taking the House Republican women seriously here.
==“ While I have issues with how Welch has handled this, we certainly aren’t going to take lectures from Republicans regarding harassment cases.”==
Um, if the Dems (and I mean the full caucus, not just the women) wanted to speak up, they would. HGOP women seem to be the only voting group with any backbone right now. Frankly at this point they’re more credible on the issue than the five legislators who have defended him so far (Evans, Gordon-Booth, N. Hernandez, Davis, and Grasse). Yes, their national leaders are awful, but I don’t think it makes sense to punish allies when they speak out.
If this were anyone else (but himself), Welch would have kicked them out of the caucus already. Where is the outcry from the house dem women? And why doesn’t he have to answer questions from the press?
The House Republican women are fine with the GOP’s significantly larger sex pest problem. They wouldn’t have time to look sideways at the Dems if they cared half as much about cleaning their own house.
Why bother- Welch’s future along with his CTU bailout will be determined by his own Party- R’s would be smart to stay away from this intra- party issue
@Sue - I sort of agree with you - usually better to stay out of the Dem drama. However, by putting down this marker, the House GOP Women now have Teflon; no way the Dems go after women in the defense of a male Dem leader accused of insensitivity towards sexual harassment within the Dem party.
=However, by putting down this marker, the House GOP Women now have Teflon=
Sure they do. And if the Dems ultimately give Welch the boot what will they do with this new found courage? Because if they’ve suddenly found their voice there’s a whole bunch of atrocities that they can now weigh in on.
As the HGOP smells blood and swirls Welch in the middle of the ocean, will the HDems throw in the life jacket? I don’t think so…
- Google is Your Friend - Wednesday, Aug 5, 26 @ 3:24 pm:
Amy Grant went on mic in the House chamber and attacked a female House Democratic staffer just this past session. And she’s out here supposedly standing up for women staff?
I get Democrats pointing out Republican hypocrisy but I would hope that the Democrats would strive to be better and not say Trump set the bar and we can go just as low. My hope is when Trump is gone perhaps both parties could resort to civil discourse. I will now change my user name to Pollyanna
I’m crying from laughter at the women of the HGOP, who apparently don’t know the difference between a kettle and a pot. However, if the Dems really care about all women, they will dump the Speaker faster than a jilted girlfriend. Get to it and don’t disappoint all the women who have been treated like this in this industry or elsewhere. Be the leaders we are looking for!
Why turn this into a partisan issue?
Does one’s hatred for the Republican Party cause oneself to give Squeaker Welch a pass? If more House Dems spoke up they could have beat the Guppies to the punch.
- Irreverent - Wednesday, Aug 5, 26 @ 1:26 pm:
What an own-goal this was for the Dems. How hard is it actually to not Stan for sex pests?
- DuPage Saint - Wednesday, Aug 5, 26 @ 1:38 pm:
If this was 20 years ago or maybe even 15 these ads, which are good, might have made a difference. There is no viable Republican Party in the collar counties and hence this is a thoroughly Democratic state. The fault is the Republicans they want a purity party and they got one. They can have their party convention in a pup tent. I was is life long Republican I have voted for Democrats more in the last few elections than ever before in my life. I find that sad
- Norseman - Wednesday, Aug 5, 26 @ 1:40 pm:
House Republican women - Now do your national party leadership [banned exclamation point] Your principles shouldn’t stop at the borderlines.
- Think Again - Wednesday, Aug 5, 26 @ 1:48 pm:
=House Republican women =
The longer the Dems whistle past the graveyard, the more this becomes an issue that could move undecided voters in the fall to the GOP. Dems need to take action on the failure to address harassment issues within their own tent.
- Irreverent - Wednesday, Aug 5, 26 @ 1:49 pm:
@Dupage
I used to be a right-leaning swing voter until Trump apologized to Erdogan for the First Amendment after letting his thugs run wild on Americans.
- Pundent - Wednesday, Aug 5, 26 @ 1:51 pm:
There’s still an opportunity for the Dem Caucus to take the moral higher ground here. For Republicans that shipped sailed many years ago. So you’ll have to forgive me for not taking the House Republican women seriously here.
- low level - Wednesday, Aug 5, 26 @ 2:03 pm:
While I have issues with how Welch has handled this, we certainly aren’t going to take lectures from Republicans regarding harassment cases.
“First take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye…”
- Not Rich - Wednesday, Aug 5, 26 @ 2:05 pm:
The silence from the Democratic women is embarrassing .. good to know where they stand these days.
- Annie Non - Wednesday, Aug 5, 26 @ 2:14 pm:
==“ While I have issues with how Welch has handled this, we certainly aren’t going to take lectures from Republicans regarding harassment cases.”==
Um, if the Dems (and I mean the full caucus, not just the women) wanted to speak up, they would. HGOP women seem to be the only voting group with any backbone right now. Frankly at this point they’re more credible on the issue than the five legislators who have defended him so far (Evans, Gordon-Booth, N. Hernandez, Davis, and Grasse). Yes, their national leaders are awful, but I don’t think it makes sense to punish allies when they speak out.
- Pumpsss - Wednesday, Aug 5, 26 @ 2:21 pm:
If this were anyone else (but himself), Welch would have kicked them out of the caucus already. Where is the outcry from the house dem women? And why doesn’t he have to answer questions from the press?
- SAW - Wednesday, Aug 5, 26 @ 2:23 pm:
@ Not Rich - Rep. Kelly Cassidy made a statement last week that was posted on this site
https://capitolfax.com/2026/07/31/rep-kelly-cassidy-speaker-welch-has-issued-a-series-of-excuses-victim-blaming-and-a-failure-to-publicly-acknowledge-shortcomings/
- Irreverent - Wednesday, Aug 5, 26 @ 2:28 pm:
@Annie
The House Republican women are fine with the GOP’s significantly larger sex pest problem. They wouldn’t have time to look sideways at the Dems if they cared half as much about cleaning their own house.
- Not Rich - Wednesday, Aug 5, 26 @ 2:33 pm:
SAW: who else?? Where are the others??
- Sue - Wednesday, Aug 5, 26 @ 2:36 pm:
Why bother- Welch’s future along with his CTU bailout will be determined by his own Party- R’s would be smart to stay away from this intra- party issue
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Aug 5, 26 @ 2:36 pm:
==Where are the others??==
Probably trying to figure out the path forward. You don’t just light the house on fire without some sort of plan on what happens after it burns down.
- Billy the Kid - Wednesday, Aug 5, 26 @ 2:37 pm:
@ Saw including Rep. Crespo (per his Trib opinion piece).
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/07/29/opinion-illinois-house-speaker-sexual-harassment-emanuel-chris-welch/
The question is: will the House Dem caucus’ water-balloon hold? If so, until when will it pops? Rep. Cassidy has the needle ready to puncture it.
- Think Again - Wednesday, Aug 5, 26 @ 2:44 pm:
=Why bother=
@Sue - I sort of agree with you - usually better to stay out of the Dem drama. However, by putting down this marker, the House GOP Women now have Teflon; no way the Dems go after women in the defense of a male Dem leader accused of insensitivity towards sexual harassment within the Dem party.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Aug 5, 26 @ 2:46 pm:
===You don’t just light the house on fire without some sort of plan on what happens after it burns down.===
That’s not what happened with Madigan. First, Madigan came up several votes short, then they picked a replacement.
- low level - Wednesday, Aug 5, 26 @ 2:59 pm:
==HGOP women seem to be the only voting group with any backbone right now.==
Hilarious. They have zero credibility. When they demand their Dear Leader resign, then talk to me. Otherwise its partisan nonsense.
- Pundent - Wednesday, Aug 5, 26 @ 3:01 pm:
=However, by putting down this marker, the House GOP Women now have Teflon=
Sure they do. And if the Dems ultimately give Welch the boot what will they do with this new found courage? Because if they’ve suddenly found their voice there’s a whole bunch of atrocities that they can now weigh in on.
- Billy the Kid - Wednesday, Aug 5, 26 @ 3:19 pm:
As the HGOP smells blood and swirls Welch in the middle of the ocean, will the HDems throw in the life jacket? I don’t think so…
- Google is Your Friend - Wednesday, Aug 5, 26 @ 3:24 pm:
Amy Grant went on mic in the House chamber and attacked a female House Democratic staffer just this past session. And she’s out here supposedly standing up for women staff?
- DuPage Saint - Wednesday, Aug 5, 26 @ 3:36 pm:
I get Democrats pointing out Republican hypocrisy but I would hope that the Democrats would strive to be better and not say Trump set the bar and we can go just as low. My hope is when Trump is gone perhaps both parties could resort to civil discourse. I will now change my user name to Pollyanna
- Doogie Howser - Wednesday, Aug 5, 26 @ 3:44 pm:
I’m crying from laughter at the women of the HGOP, who apparently don’t know the difference between a kettle and a pot. However, if the Dems really care about all women, they will dump the Speaker faster than a jilted girlfriend. Get to it and don’t disappoint all the women who have been treated like this in this industry or elsewhere. Be the leaders we are looking for!
- Purple - Wednesday, Aug 5, 26 @ 4:27 pm:
Cheap shot going after Katie Stuart. Katie is a legislator with integrity. If Katie were Speaker we would not be back where we were in 2018.
- Squeaker Welch - Wednesday, Aug 5, 26 @ 4:55 pm:
Why turn this into a partisan issue?
Does one’s hatred for the Republican Party cause oneself to give Squeaker Welch a pass? If more House Dems spoke up they could have beat the Guppies to the punch.
Don’t be a shmoo