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* UPDATED x2 - Sauer to resign today * Complaint alleges Rep. Nick Sauer used nude photos of ex-girlfriend to catfish men

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* This is just so wrong on so many levels…

A former girlfriend of Illinois state Rep. Nick Sauer has filed an official complaint accusing the first-term Republican of creating a fake Instagram account and populating it with nude photos of her to lure men into “graphic” discussions.

According to the complaint filed by ex-girlfriend Kate Kelly with the Office of the Legislative Inspector General and obtained by POLITICO, Sauer used the Instagram account “to catfish other men using my privately shared naked photos. Nick would use this account to direct message men with my photos to engage in graphic conversations of a sexual nature. The men believed they were communicating with me and Nick shared private details of my life.”

In her complaint, Kelly states that she filed a police report with the Chicago Police Department and that there is “an active investigation” into her claims. CPD has not yet complied with POLITICO’s Freedom of Information Act request for the police report. […]

The complaint says Kelly’s employer helped her determine how long the fake Instagram account had been in use based on when messages were sent, which was close to the time they had started dating.

In her complaint, Kelly writes that Sauer admitted as much. “He came to my house & confessed to catfishing men with my photos for 2 years to at least 8 men. He was unable to provide the names and begged that I let it go,” she wrote.

Sauer hasn’t yet been charged with a crime.

*** UPDATE 1 *** From House Republican Leader Jim Durkin…

The allegations that have come forth against Representative Nick Sauer are troubling. He will be resigning from office today. We should allow the proper authorities to conduct their investigations.

…Adding… This is his Senator…

“These are very serious allegations and Representative Nick Sauer has made the right decision to resign his seat in the Illinois House of Representatives,” said State Sen. Dan McConchie (R-26th District).

*** UPDATE 2 *** This is a good explanation of what the real issues are here…

Illinois State Senator Melinda Bush issued the following statement calling for Rep. Nick Sauer to resign after allegations of sexual harassment and violation of Illinois’ “revenge-porn” law by releasing nude photos of an ex-girlfriend without her consent:

“I want to first thank Kate Kelly for her bravery in speaking out against the sexual harassment she endured by Rep. Nick Sauer. This is exactly why I fought for the creation of the Joint Task Force on Sexual Discrimination and Harassment Awareness and Prevention, so we could give victims a safe space to come forward and so we can take the necessary steps to change the culture in Springfield and eliminate sexual harassment.

“The allegations against Rep. Sauer, which I believe are true, goes beyond harassment and crosses the line between predatory and criminal. We passed the so-called “revenge porn” law in 2015 to make these kinds of non-consensual releases of private sexual images a felony offense in Illinois.

“Early this morning, I personally reached out to Sen. Jil Tracy (R - Quincy), the co-chair of the joint task force on sexual harassment to ask for Rep. Sauer to be immediately removed from this task force. And unless Rep. Sauer has credible evidence to address the accusations against him, I believe he should immediately resign from his position as state representative.

“Democrat or Republican - this behavior is inappropriate and unbecoming of someone elected to serve the public. I applaud the Illinois Republican Party for calling for Rep. Sauer’s resignation; I hope he will do the right thing and step down immediately.

Sen. Bush co-chairs the Joint Task Force on Sexual Discrimination and Harassment Awareness and Prevention and serves of the Anti-Harassment, Equality and Access panel formed earlier this year.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Aug 1, 18 @ 9:53 am

Comments

I don’t think he survives the day. Who replaces him?

Comment by ILPundit Wednesday, Aug 1, 18 @ 9:59 am
–Sauer, who is seeking re-election to a second term in a legislative district that includes the posh northern suburb of Barrington, declined to comment for this story.–

Really not an option, dude. You’re going to have to answer, one way or the other.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Aug 1, 18 @ 10:02 am
His silence is deafening. This is disgusting, and he should resign immediately.

If Ms. Kelly’s claims are proven true, I hope he spends some time in prison.

Comment by Bob Cobb Wednesday, Aug 1, 18 @ 10:03 am
In all serious… what is the incentive to do this? Like why catfish dudes to begin with? Especially with nude pictures of your ex-girlfriend

Comment by Yeesh Wednesday, Aug 1, 18 @ 10:04 am
Had hoped that after the last couple years inappropriate behavior of a sexual nature by GA members would be seriously reduced. Apparently it’s only changed in format.

Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Wednesday, Aug 1, 18 @ 10:04 am
Truly gross news, regardless of party.

Comment by Albany Park Patriot Wednesday, Aug 1, 18 @ 10:04 am
From a Politico article…

Sauer, a member of the state House Sexual Discrimination and Harassment Task Force, is a self-described “fiscal hawk” who supports term limits and transparency in government, according to his website. On the subject of ethical leadership, he states: “Corruption and unethical behavior has plagued Illinois’ past, but it does not need to define our future. Nick will work hard to lead by example and make decisions that honor the values of our district and the people he will represent.”

Comment by ILMom Wednesday, Aug 1, 18 @ 10:04 am
What does “catfish” other men mean?

Comment by Anon Wednesday, Aug 1, 18 @ 10:04 am
In other news- Ken Dunkin announces he’s moving to Barrington, does not state reason.

Comment by Han's Solo Cup Wednesday, Aug 1, 18 @ 10:06 am
What in the what?

Comment by Saluki Wednesday, Aug 1, 18 @ 10:11 am
==In all serious… what is the incentive to do this? Like why catfish dudes to begin with? Especially with nude pictures of your ex-girlfriend==

A lot of men pose as women online to get into “graphic” conversations.

==What does “catfish” other men mean?==

Basically to lure someone into a relationship with a fake online persona

Comment by Anonimity Wednesday, Aug 1, 18 @ 10:11 am
Annnndddd he’s out… Durkin’s statement in Scribble.

Comment by Anon221 Wednesday, Aug 1, 18 @ 10:12 am
Yeesh: I can’t see any other reason than being a pathological liar. He probably got a rush out of it.

Comment by Timmeh Wednesday, Aug 1, 18 @ 10:13 am
Lake Co GOPies seems to be havin’ a bad day. GOPie County Board Chair is taking some time to deal with his problems. GovJunk admin tradition would see them in new six figure gigs

Comment by Annonin' Wednesday, Aug 1, 18 @ 10:13 am
@Anon It means he maintained online relationships with men while pretending to be his ex-GF

Comment by Super Future Fire Marshall Hendrix Wednesday, Aug 1, 18 @ 10:14 am
Anon: To deceive by impersonating. “Sauer used the Instagram account ‘to catfish other men using my privately shared naked photos.” This dude acted like his ex-girlfriend and sexted other guys. Allegedly.

Comment by Timmeh Wednesday, Aug 1, 18 @ 10:17 am
This is Carlos Danger stuff…except with men.

Comment by FIREDup! Wednesday, Aug 1, 18 @ 10:18 am
Nick is fine. Daddy’s got him covered as a partner in the family business. He’ll lawyer up, and with a good defense attorney, he’ll be out before you can say pardon.

Comment by PublicServant Wednesday, Aug 1, 18 @ 10:23 am
Ok, what? It says the behavior started nearly as soon as they began dating, so it doesn’t seem like it was targeted at the ex, to get back at her for anything. So it’s probably not “revenge porn.” Was he targeting specific men for blackmail purposes? Those are the only two possible motivations I can come up with, the only other being the guy is in the closet, but that also doesn’t work if he’s telling the guys that he is a woman. I just don’t get what he was trying to do…

Comment by Perrid Wednesday, Aug 1, 18 @ 10:26 am
The party of family values.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Aug 1, 18 @ 10:27 am
And this guy was on the House Sexual Discrimination and Harassment Task Force?

Yuck.

This is unfairly sexist of me but at times like this I can’t help but wonder how much better society would be if we reduced the percentage of male elected officeholders to something like 10%.

Comment by hisgirlfriday Wednesday, Aug 1, 18 @ 10:30 am
=== Ok, what? It says the behavior started nearly as soon as they began dating, so it doesn’t seem like it was targeted at the ex, to get back at her for anything. So it’s probably not “revenge porn.” Was he targeting specific men for blackmail purposes? Those are the only two possible motivations I can come up with, the only other being the guy is in the closet, but that also doesn’t work if he’s telling the guys that he is a woman. I just don’t get what he was trying to do… ===

He could have been using the photos of his ex gf to elicit pics back from various men. I will leave to your imagination what probably happened next.

Comment by Anon Wednesday, Aug 1, 18 @ 10:31 am
So… who is Mary Edly-Allen, and why is she the luckiest candidate so far in August?

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Aug 1, 18 @ 10:33 am
=== This is unfairly sexist of me ===

Yes, it is unfairly sexist of you

Comment by Anon Wednesday, Aug 1, 18 @ 10:34 am
Perrid, this is absolutely considered “revenge porn” under criminal law. It’s the non-consensual dissemination of nude images. Why he did it doesn’t matter. It’s a crime.

Comment by DGD Wednesday, Aug 1, 18 @ 10:36 am
Durkie and GovJunk founds his a job this fast?
Nice move fellas

Comment by Annonin' Wednesday, Aug 1, 18 @ 10:38 am
Well I guess on the positive side it takes attention away from the neo nazi Republican for awhile

Comment by DuPage Saint Wednesday, Aug 1, 18 @ 10:40 am
Mayor Darch come on down

Comment by KOL Wednesday, Aug 1, 18 @ 10:41 am
Party of God and family values, yup!

Comment by Nick Name Wednesday, Aug 1, 18 @ 10:42 am
–I just don’t get what he was trying to do…–

Really?

There are an infinite number of paths, but the ultimate objective is always the same.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Aug 1, 18 @ 10:43 am
Joined the House Sexual Discrimination and Harassment Task Force. A bold, bold move, my dude.

So now what - the primary is over. Can they get his replacement on the ballot? I forget what happened… last time something like this happened.

Comment by lakeside Wednesday, Aug 1, 18 @ 10:44 am
I agree with the commenter who suggested fewer men in public office.

Comment by Albany Park Patriot Wednesday, Aug 1, 18 @ 10:45 am
It’s a Republican district, but Hillary won it by 5 points. If the Dems have a good candidate and the Republicans aren’t careful about the replacement they pick, this is suddenly the kind of seat that could flip in a wave election.

Comment by Roman Wednesday, Aug 1, 18 @ 10:45 am
Lots of great choices available from the Lake County GOP. Aaron Lawlor? Mark Shaw? Maybe they could appoint one of the assault rifles they raffled off after the Las Vegas massacre?

Comment by Lake County Voter Wednesday, Aug 1, 18 @ 10:57 am
I think we should elect more millennials to office. They really seem to have their heads on straight.

Comment by allknowingmasterofracoondom Wednesday, Aug 1, 18 @ 11:01 am
==I think we should elect more millennials to office.==

Didn’t realize Denny Hastert was a millennial. I learn something new on this forum every day.

Comment by Shelby Thomas Weems Wednesday, Aug 1, 18 @ 11:10 am
Don’t these guys realize that anything you put on social media is going to be, excuse the pun, exposed sooner or later? Is their perverse behavior mind-numbing to this inevitable career destroying result?

Comment by Wensicia Wednesday, Aug 1, 18 @ 11:21 am
The “revenge porn” bill address revenge porn but isn’t the best name for it.

To be a crime under it there does NOT have to be intent to do harm.

What is being alleged would seem to qualify.

Comment by Kyle Hillman Wednesday, Aug 1, 18 @ 11:21 am
“I just don’t get what he was trying to do…”

A Reverse-Sandack?

– MrJM

Comment by @misterjayem Wednesday, Aug 1, 18 @ 11:31 am
Sick sick sick sick. Dude has serious problems.

Comment by The Way I See It Wednesday, Aug 1, 18 @ 11:37 am
===Didn’t realize Denny Hastert was a millennial. I learn something new on this forum every day.===

LOL

Comment by Boone's is Back Wednesday, Aug 1, 18 @ 11:42 am
What fantasy land was this guy thinking in as he hit the Enter button to set this account up? Of all the pictures on the Internet he uses an ex-girlfriend? To quote Bugs Bunny: What a maroon.

Comment by zatoichi Wednesday, Aug 1, 18 @ 11:45 am
==If the Dems have a good candidate

There is an outstanding Democratic candidate running for that seat… Mary Edly-Allen.

Comment by LakeCoQ Wednesday, Aug 1, 18 @ 11:56 am
== I think we should elect more millennials to office ==

All you will be electing one day will be millenials and Gen Z. Circle of life dude. Very weird thought to think age has something to do with sick actions.

Comment by Millennial Wednesday, Aug 1, 18 @ 11:59 am
DGD@10:36, I agree it’s a violation of the law enacted to stop revenge porn, but calling the act itself revenge porn might not be accurate if he “just” needed some women’s photos and she happened to be there. That doesn’t change the fact that it’s illegal and creepy and wrong, just changes the semantics.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Aug 1, 18 @ 12:09 pm
The ones on here condemning a whole party for the mistakes of one person is pathetic. Democrats have had many problems as well. This is not a party issue, it is one persons character issue. Grow up and quit the BS. You know who you are. You are as bad as he is. Sickening on all sides.

Comment by Testing Wednesday, Aug 1, 18 @ 12:27 pm
Glad that this creepy legislator is no longer representing citizens. Not sure how one ties in Madigan to this. I wish there was better candidate vetting.

Comment by Barrington Wednesday, Aug 1, 18 @ 12:37 pm
Sorry. This guy needs some old school justice. What a creep.

Comment by BlueDogDem Wednesday, Aug 1, 18 @ 12:39 pm
@Barrington - there’s no connection to Madigan - Sauer is on Rauner’s team - a Republican.

Comment by NameNick Wednesday, Aug 1, 18 @ 12:52 pm
- Millennial - Wednesday, Aug 1, 18 @ 11:59 am:

== I think we should elect more millennials to office ==

All you will be electing one day will be millenials and Gen Z. Circle of life dude. Very weird thought to think age has something to do with sick actions.

Yes, that is a weird thought, but not what I was thinking at all. What I was thinking is that young kids have a judgement issue - they just don’t have the life experience to make consistent good judgement calls. That is what I meant….and believe.

Comment by allknowingmasterofracoondom Wednesday, Aug 1, 18 @ 12:57 pm
==The ones on here condemning a whole party for the mistakes of one person is pathetic.==
Not one comment here is condemning a whole party. Voices in your head, perhaps?

Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Wednesday, Aug 1, 18 @ 12:59 pm
This dude is gay or bi, and very repressed.

Comment by Obvi Wednesday, Aug 1, 18 @ 1:23 pm
- allknowingmasterofracoondom -

Thank goodness for the judgement of Blago. And Ryan. And Walker and Kerner. And the several other non-millennial resignees just this year. Or our state would be in a whole heap of bad judgement. Dang millennials ruining everything…

Age does not indicate what a person has experienced. Judgement is not consistently defined by age.

What Sauer did is very wrong. End of story.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Aug 1, 18 @ 1:30 pm
So what’s the grand total of those not seeking re-election in the house now?

Comment by LC Illini Wednesday, Aug 1, 18 @ 1:34 pm
==The ones on here condemning a whole party for the mistakes of one person is pathetic.==

No idea who or what you are talking about. It is a bit ironic to think that this is the district that was represented by Ed Sullivan. A level headed guy that could get things done with Democrats and Republicans. Unfortunately there were those that saw him as too “moderate” given his support for same sex marriage and touted Sauer as the conservative alternative.

Funny how things work.

Comment by Pundent Wednesday, Aug 1, 18 @ 1:35 pm
Did he resign yet?

Another reason for why more women in elected office would be a pretty good idea.

Comment by Shytown Wednesday, Aug 1, 18 @ 1:36 pm
==This is unfairly sexist of me but at times like this I can’t help but wonder how much better society would be if we reduced the percentage of male elected officeholders to something like 10%.==

I don’t think it is unfair at all. I’m a white male. White men have had almost 250 years running the country and 200 years running state. (We did have Obama and Pelosi, but the backlash…woah.) We continue to elect folks with the primary qualifications of being white, male, and rich. Frankly, 10% seems a bit generous.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Wednesday, Aug 1, 18 @ 1:49 pm
No one who has spent much time around the General Assembly would believe that sexual harassment is confined to members on only one side of the aisle.

Comment by anon2 Wednesday, Aug 1, 18 @ 1:53 pm
Pretending to be his ex while online with other men makes this extra sick. Why isn’t Nick Sauer already in handcuffs?

Comment by GOPgal Wednesday, Aug 1, 18 @ 1:54 pm
the dude has major mental health problems obviously.
Creeeeeepy

Comment by Team Katniss Wednesday, Aug 1, 18 @ 1:56 pm
–The ones on here condemning a whole party for the mistakes of one person is pathetic. –

Be fair. Rauner only blamed Madigan for it.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Aug 1, 18 @ 2:02 pm
And lawmakers wonder why they are not held in high regard by the public.

Comment by dr. reason a, goodwin Wednesday, Aug 1, 18 @ 2:50 pm