A southwest suburban state representative resigned Friday amid allegations of misconduct that were deemed “outrageous, unethical, and unbecoming” by Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside.
State Rep. Harry Benton, D-Plainfield, stepped down two days after Legislative Inspector General Mike McCuskey completed an investigation into the unspecified accusations that prompted Welch to exile Benton from House Democratic caucus meetings in February.
Welch had called on Benton to resign Wednesday or else face expulsion from their chamber. Benton’s resignation makes it unlikely that the inspector general’s report on the two-term representative’s alleged misconduct will be publicly released.
“This matter has placed tremendous strain on my family since it began in late February,” Benton wrote in a resignation letter addressed to Welch and House colleagues, which was shared by the speaker’s office. “As we move forward into this next chapter of our lives, I respectfully ask that our privacy be honored.”
Officials have not outlined the accusations against Benton, who did not address the investigation in his letter. Sources have described them to the Sun-Times as sexual harassment allegations.
Earlier in the week, Welch in a statement said McCuskey’s findings “reveal clear patterns of conduct by Rep. Benton that are outrageous, unethical, and unbecoming of a member of the Illinois House of Representatives.”
The speaker, who previously indicated the case involved multiple alleged victims, reiterated Friday that he was “grateful to those who came forward and trusted our office to listen, support them, and ensure their concerns were handled appropriately.”
Gov. JB Pritzker hadn’t been briefed on the investigation as of Thursday, but said Welch’s response indicated “there was something, or some things, in that report that are very, very serious.”
Benton ran unopposed in the March primary for a third term and had been set to face Republican nominee Gabby Shanahan this fall. In his letter, Benton said he’ll “take the necessary steps to remove my name from the November general election ballot.”
Benton thanked constituents and asked “for your understanding and privacy as I leave the General Assembly.”
Will and Kendall county Democratic officials will select a replacement for the remainder of Benton’s term and his ballot replacement in the 97th House District, which also includes parts of Joliet, Oswego and Bolingbrook.
State Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel, a Democrat from nearby Shorewood, said in a statement that “Benton’s decision to resign is the right one for the district and the constituents he was elected to serve.
“Public service requires trust, integrity and accountability, and this is an important step toward allowing the community to move forward,” Loughran Cappel said. “I look forward to reviewing the findings of the investigation when they become available so that those impacted can get the answers, support and peace they deserve. I commend those who came forward, and I remain committed to ensuring every person feels heard, respected and safe.”
In a statement, Shanahan said, “For 126 days, families here were left without the representation they deserved. Questions went unanswered. Transparency was missing. And the political class stayed silent.”
Shanahan added that accountability “is not months of silence followed by a Friday afternoon announcement before a holiday weekend. Accountability is a promise you make to the people you serve every single day. That is my promise.”