Bipartisan commission votes to release report on former rep’s misconduct

By Sean Reed | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – The Illinois Legislative Ethics Commission voted unanimously Thursday to release an investigative report from the Legislative Inspector General about former state Rep. Harry Benton, D-Plainfield.

Benton was accused of sexual harassment by a staffer in 2023, with Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch criticized by Republicans for not taking action on the complaint in a timely manner. The investigation into Benton began early this year and concluded this month.

The investigation report won’t be released immediately, but instead likely by the end of next week, according to an official statement from the commission.

Chair of the commission, Rep. Jeff Keicher, R-Sycamore, said in a statement following the announcement that the delay was in part because state law requires time for all involved parties to request redactions and provide a response to the report.

“To protect the privacy of those involved in this case, the respondent and complainant will be given the opportunity to review the report for potential redactions, which the Commission will review,” Keicher said.

The Legislative Ethics Commission is a bipartisan board made up of an equal number of state senators and representatives from both sides of the aisle, which reviews reports like the investigation into Benton, relating to misconduct by state lawmakers.

The report will be listed under case number 26-005 on the Legislative Inspector General’s website when made available.

The vote comes just a day after Gov. J.B. Pritzker was pressed with questions related to the speaker’s own conduct and lack of action when handling complaints related to Benton.

“I am outraged at the behavior of former Rep. Harry Benton […] We live in a state where we have, for too long, had a history of corruption that needs to be rooted out, and it is being rooted out.” Pritzker said Wednesday. “We need to see that report, and I know that the speaker also believes we should see that report.”

According to Pritzker, Welch has held a series of meetings this week with the various caucuses within the Democratic icparty of the House, in which he has taken feedback and explained his actions in handling the Benton case.

Welch also gave statements regarding the handling of the claims against Benton in which he said his actions would be explained clearly if and when the report is released.

House Minority Leader Tony McCombie provided a statement on the vote, while still criticizing Welch’s alleged slow walking of earlier complaints.

“Thank you to the members of the Legislative Ethics Commission for doing the right thing: transparency is key for us to move forward, understand how we can improve, and to demand accountability for those who failed to uphold the integrity of our chamber,” McCombie said. “Unfortunately, we may never know what happened before this report due to the silence of leaders who have repeatedly chosen politics over principles.”

Her office called for the body to consider and pass House Bill 1382, which she said would strengthen the authority of the Legislative Inspector General to conduct independent investigations. The bill would amend the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act to give the Legislative Inspector General the ability to issue a subpoena with the commission’s approval and require the release of all IG reports regardless the outcome of an investigation.

The bill was introduced in early 2025, but hasn’t moved since.