Bipartisan commission votes to release report on former rep's misconduct
[July 24, 2026]
By Sean Reed | 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.”
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Now-resigned Illinois state Rep. Harry Benton speaks with colleagues
before a committee meeting during the 2026 spring legislative
session in Springfield, Ill. Photo: Courtesy of BlueRoomStream.
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.
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