Less than a day after top Democrats in Springfield called on an embattled state lawmaker to resign, Gov. J.B. Pritzker shared his thoughts on removing the two-term representative from his role.
Late Wednesday, a spokesperson for House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch released a statement that the investigation, conducted by the Legislative Inspector General, had concluded into Rep. Harry Benton, D-Plainfield.
The findings, “reveal clear patterns of conduct by Representative Benton that are outrageous, unethical, and unbecoming of a member of the Illinois House of Representatives,” according to the statement.
The speaker said he personally asked Benton to resign from his seat or he’d be expelled from the legislature.
While signing a bill in Chicago, Pritzker was asked about the report on Benton and why the investigation took so long.
Pritzker said he hadn’t actually seen the report on the allegations against Benton, but he trusts the House speaker’s actions.
After allegations of sexual harassment were reported the lawmaker was stripped of all committee assignments and removed from the Democratic caucus in late February. Welch remained silent on the matter for months.
Story from Illinois Radio Network
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