Dem leaders want transparency, unsure if ethics report will be released
[July 07, 2026]
By Sean Reed | The Center Square
(The Center Square) – After state Rep. Harry Benton stepped down from
his seat after findings in an ethics investigation, top Illinois
Democrats said they want public transparency, while noting they are
unsure if the investigation report can be made public.
Last week, Democrat leaders called on Benton, D-Plainfield, to step down
from his seat after the ethics investigation started in February was
completed.
The two-term lawmaker with a union background as an ironworker resigned
Friday and said he’ll suspend his reelection campaign, pulling his name
from the November ballot.
Benton said the investigation, which reportedly stemmed from sexual
harassment complaints, has “placed tremendous strain on [the lawmaker’s]
family,” before he asked for their privacy to be respected.
After a complaint was submitted to Mike McCuskey, the Legislative
Inspector General, in February, Benton was stripped of all committee
assignments and removed from the Democratic Caucus by House Speaker
Emanuel “Chris” Welch.
Benton was absent from session in Springfield from the investigation’s
start through April.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Welch discussed the investigation and expressed
uncertainty toward a potential release of findings by the Legislative
Ethics Commission.
“I think he made the right decision, there’s no doubt. And I’m always in
favor of transparency,” Pritzker said. “I think that one of the reasons
though that he may have chosen to resign is because I think in the
absence of someone actually being in the legislature still, that a
report can't be released about somebody that's not in the legislature
anymore.”
According to state statute, the body has jurisdiction over current and
former members of the legislature in their capacity as lawmakers.
“I’ve got to imagine that because he has resigned they no longer have
the authority to look into this further, but I'm going to let the
Legislative Ethics Commission determine what their ability is going
forward,” Welch said.
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The commission is scheduled to meet with the legislative inspector
later this month, according to Welch, noting that the commission
could have more information to share then.
According to law, Welch has 20 days from when he received the report
from the inspector to officially respond, and the inspector is given
30 days to deliver the report to the commission.
Leadership of the commission declined to comment when asked if they
have received information related to the investigation, or if they
expect to discuss it at their next meeting.
No parties have said if the findings, which Welch described as,
“outrageous, unethical, and unprofessional,” are criminal in nature,
which would be referred to the attorney general.
Because the investigation didn’t result in a suspension or
termination, the commission is not required to publicly release the
report, but they have the power to according to state law.
Benton said he would begin to suspend his reelection campaign. As of
Monday, Benton’s campaign was still listed as active on the Illinois
State Board of Elections website.
The lawmaker was set to again run against Republican candidate Gabby
Shanahan, an engagement director with Americans for Prosperity. She
lost to Benton by 4.4% in 2024.
Shanahan told The Center Square a new opponent to fill the vacancy
would need to be appointed by Aug. 21 deadline for ballot changes
statewide.
Welch said local Democrat leadership is in charge of finding a
replacement when asked if he or other party officials will be
involved.
“That is the next step, for the Will and Kendall County chairs to
make that decision – and you know all politics is local – we're
going to defer to them on that replacement,” Welch said.
Mary Jo Wenmouth, the Kendall County Democrat Chair, said in a
statement that she and the Will County chair are already in
discussion about a replacement for Benton.
A form has also been posted to the Will County party’s website for
candidates to apply for the ballot vacancy, with a deadline of next
week Monday. |
