State Rep accused of sexual harassment, office drug use by former
staffer
[August 25, 2026]
By Sean Reed | The Center Square
(The Center Square) – State Rep. Amy Murri Briel, D-Ottowa, is the
latest lawmaker subject to allegations of ethics violations and
inappropriate behavior in office after a former staffer went public with
allegations including drug use and sexual harassment.
Laura Jackson, Briel’s former chief of staff and campaign staffer, went
public Thursday through the campaign of Liz Bishop, the GOP nominee for
the 76th Illinois House district, with allegations that the lawmaker
acted inappropriately in office.
Bishop’s campaign released a 44-minute-long video where Jackson, a
self-described progressive, said Briel made sexual comments to her and
other staff, used and shared drugs such as Adderall and marijuana in her
taxpayer-funded office, and more.
In the interview, Jackson alleged Briel sexually harassed her multiple
times.
“I was told several times in a joking manner that I would be her prize
sexually after she won the campaign, but then it was just constant from
there. Even after getting into office, every day I would hear comments
about how I need to get an older woman lover,” Jackson said.
She said Briel would also work in her taxpayer-funded office while high
on marijuana.
“I have witnessed Rep. Briel working as a public official high on many
occasions, including smoking a joint and then going into a meeting in
her office with somebody from the community,” Jackson said.
She said Briel got away with smoking in the district office because it
was on the building’s top floor, often unoccupied, and she often brought
a THC vape pen when working in Springfield.
Jackson also claimed that Briel distributed the stimulant Adderall, a
Schedule II controlled substance, to her during her campaign.
Jackson described to The Center Square how her complaints were handled
in Springfield.
“I submitted my complaints, told my story very early on and was met with
a lot of – just questions that were really kind of trying to invalidate
me. I wasn't heard by anybody,” Jackson said.
Jackson said she filed an official complaint with the Legislative
Inspector General, Michael McCuskey, in April 2025, and sat down with
him for a three-hour interview.
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A view inside the Illinois House chamber in Springfield showing
chandeliers and the representative display board. Photo: Greg Bishop
/ The Center Square
McCuskey’s ability to serve as the LIG was called into question
following his investigation into former Rep. Harry Benton, who
resigned after being accused of sexually harassing multiple women,
to which the 78-year-old former judge denied any poor practices in
the investigation.
Jackson said her complaint and recent complaints against other
lawmakers in the House parallel one another.
“These politicians with this power are able to do anything that they
want and then they have these organizations surrounding them to
protect them as any kind of complaints or anything is submitted,”
Jackson said.
While neither her campaign nor her public office responded to a
request for comment, Briel said in a statement to other media
outlets that the allegations were found to be false, calling on the
Legislative Ethics Commission to release McCuskey’s report
dismissing Jackson’s complaint.
“The statements in the video produced by her MAGA political
operatives were previously taken to the Legislative Inspector
General in 2025 and were found to be without merit,” Briel said.
In an attempt to reach McCuskey for comment, an office staffer of
the LIG said that all of their cases, including Jackson’s, are
confidential and he won’t comment on the matter.
Jackson waived her right to confidentiality, according to McCuskey’s
own statement to the Sun Times.
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