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* Background is here if you need it. Tom Dreisbach at NPR…
The top Democrat in the Illinois House of Representatives said that he and his colleagues are cutting ties with the public relations firm SKDK after learning that the firm failed to disclose an apparent conflict of interest in a 2018 sexual harassment and retaliation scandal.
Emanuel “Chris” Welch, the Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives, made the announcement following NPR’s reporting that SKDK helped advise a powerful Illinois politician on how to respond to a sexual harassment retaliation lawsuit. SKDK was simultaneously working with a #MeToo advocacy group supporting the accuser in the lawsuit.
“The glaring conflict of interest and conduct in this case sends a chilling message to victims and survivors that they can’t even trust the people who claim to be their greatest supporters,” Welch said in a statement to NPR. “We find this to be deeply disheartening and disqualifying for us.”
Welch’s decision was first reported by Capitol Fax, a newsletter that covers Illinois politics. In his comments to Capitol Fax, Welch specifically called out Anita Dunn, who is currently a top adviser in President Joe Biden’s White House. […]
“While this error in judgment happened more than five years ago, we understand the decision made by Illinois House Democrats,” SKDK spokesperson Mike Czin said in an emailed statement. “We are proud of the work we have done to support survivors, and we will redouble our efforts to regain trust.”
* Speaker Welch’s statement to Capitol Fax this past Friday…
What we should have made clear is that we find these practices disqualifying. What SKDK and Anita Dunn did in the Alaina Hampton case has impacts well beyond Ms. Hampton, and sends a chilling message to victims and survivors that they can’t even trust the people who claim to be their greatest supporters.
We will not engage SKDK or Ms. Dunn in the future.
Subscribers know more.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Sep 18, 23 @ 3:51 pm
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Because Madigan
Comment by Rabid Monday, Sep 18, 23 @ 4:28 pm
Classic. Welch fires a firm for doing exactly what he did at the time, claiming to take Me Too seriously but still supporting, voting for, and covering up for Madigan until the very bitter end. Look in a mirror.
Comment by Gencorp Monday, Sep 18, 23 @ 4:44 pm
Anyone can look up SKDK in campaign finance reports to see who has hired the firm.
Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Monday, Sep 18, 23 @ 4:56 pm
@Three Dimensional: Yes, anyone can do it. Here’s a link to the results:
https://www.elections.il.gov/CampaignDisclosure/ExpenditureSearchByCandidates.aspx?ddlCanElectType=wOGh3QTPfKqV2YWjeRmjTeStk426RfVK&ddlDistrictType=Ry707kcsXsM%3d&ddlDistrict=Ry707kcsXsM%3d&ddlOffice=Ry707kcsXsM%3d&ddlCanParty=wOGh3QTPfKo1tEttGF9HKbn6drBFL4Qb&txtCanLastName=u%2fAkT74RyeaCnMYnLiDiww%3d%3d&ddlCanLastNameSearchType=uhV70GVj7rs2mYAJ0IPVG%2fPXF28eNgo%2f&radSupportingOpposing=Ry707kcsXsM%3d&ddlCanSearchExpenditureType=wOGh3QTPfKqV2YWjeRmjTeStk426RfVK&ddlState=Ry707kcsXsM%3d&ddlReceivedDateTime=Ry707kcsXsM%3d&ddlReceivedDateTimeThru=Ry707kcsXsM%3d&txtCanSearchLastOnlyName=wd0qroe0oAcwZbzrSxexVw%3d%3d&ddlCanSearchLastOnlyNameSearchType=uhV70GVj7rs2mYAJ0IPVG%2fPXF28eNgo%2f
What it shows is that Friends of Madigan made the expenditures between February and September of 2019 but didn’t disclose them until July of 2020. So at the time? No, it wasn’t disclosed.
Lotta people are going to have to adapt their messaging. Welch isn’t Madigan. Not by a longshot.
Comment by Socially DIstant Watcher Monday, Sep 18, 23 @ 5:35 pm
“What it shows is that Friends of Madigan made the expenditures between February and September of 2019 but didn’t disclose them until July of 2020. So at the time? No, it wasn’t disclosed.
Lotta people are going to have to adapt their messaging. Welch isn’t Madigan. Not by a longshot.”
Check out the DIH connections til long after that time. Welch is much more like Madigan than a “long shot.”
Comment by ESR Monday, Sep 18, 23 @ 6:57 pm
===Check out the DIH connections til long after that time===
Not even Alaina Hampton knew about SKDK’s double dealing until the Mapes trial.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Sep 18, 23 @ 7:05 pm
@Socially DIstant Watcher.
Its hard to believe but its not actually what it shows. Your list shows the date of amended report disclosures. If you look at the filings they were all disclosed within the quarter the money was spent.
Comment by Jackson Tuesday, Sep 19, 23 @ 10:14 am