Illinois Rep faces investigation over sexual harassment

By Sean Reed | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – A state representative embattled with allegations of sexual harassment returned to Springfield this week after being stripped of all committee assignments and ousted from the Democratic caucus.

After a long week of legislative session, House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Westchester, held a press conference to discuss the ‘megaprojects’ bill thaty passed Wednesday.

Reporters quickly shifted to a subject the speaker has avoided recently: Rep. Harry Benton, D-Plainfield, who voted in favor of the bill.

Benton was, for all intents and purposes, shunned by his party over allegations of sexual harassment in late February.

Confronted for specifics about Benton’s status in the legislature late Wednesday, Welch said he still didn’t want to discuss the matter.

“We’re going to talk about what happened here today,” Welch said.

Reporters pushed back, noting Benton returned to the House floor without clarity to constituents on why he was ousted.

“At the proper time that information will come out,” Welch said.

The Center Square asked if information would come to light before or after May 31, when the Spring legislative session is scheduled to end.

Welch then spoke at length, defending his silence on the matter.

“People are entitled to due process. There is a process in place that guarantees every one of us due process, and we’re going to allow that process to play out,” Welch said. “And we shared this with the caucus. We also have to talk about victims and what they’re entitled to.”

Welch said he would not share more information on the grounds of protecting victims and did not specify what he meant by “due process.”

The Legislative Inspector General’s office released a quarterly report earlier this month, which said only one instance of sexual harassment had been reported since the start of the year, and an investigation has since been opened.

Reporting from Capitol News Illinois confirmed allegations against Benton exist and there is an ongoing investigation by the inspector.

The quarterly report did not go into further detail, but the office only releases reports with findings after an investigation concludes.

Benton, who is currently in his second term serving the 97th District, is up for reelection in November. He is up against Republican candidate Gabby Shanahan, who lost to him by 4.4% – about 2,300 votes – in 2024.

In a statement to The Center Square, Shanahan said she is running to be accountable to residents of the district.

“Families are being left without a voice while costs go up and politicians look out for themselves. Enough is enough. We deserve answers, not silence. I’ll always show up, be accountable, and work for the people it is supposed to serve,” Shanahan said in the statement.

Neither Benton or his office responded to a request for comment.