Last month, Illinois Legislative Inspector General Michael McCuskey released a report supporting sexual harassment allegations against former state Rep. Harry Benton. However, the report has drawn criticism from one of the victims, a female lobbyist, who claimed McCuskey inaccurately portrayed her side of the story. McCuskey, a former state and federal judge, denied any inaccuracies, asserting his judgments have never been doubted.
The lobbyist has intensified her criticism in a letter to Illinois’ legislative leaders. She accused McCuskey of breaching confidence, breaking investigative norms, and making inappropriate comments during his interview with her. The claims include sharing confidential details about other victims and their cases.
Benton, a Democrat from Plainfield, resigned on July 3. McCuskey’s July 31 report concluded Benton engaged in ongoing sexual harassment against the lobbyist and two other women. This has raised concerns about House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch’s handling of the Benton case. Specifically, questions about why Welch did not take action when alerted in 2023 by a former Benton staffer who reported harassment remain.
“All of the allegations that have been made against me are always discussed and will be discussed in confidence with the Legislative Ethics Commission, who I report to each month.” – Michael McCuskey
The Senate caucuses have acknowledged the lobbyist’s concerns. Republican Leader John Curran expressed worries about the deficiencies in the investigative process and urged the Legislative Ethics Commission to address the complaint swiftly. He emphasized the importance of a comprehensive and confidential process for harassment complaints.
John Patterson, a spokesperson for Senate President Don Harmon, reiterated the necessity for victims and witnesses to receive respect, confidentiality, and professionalism when reporting incidents. This is a core element of ethics laws that needs to be upheld by the Legislative Ethics Commission and the inspector general’s office.
Earlier, McCuskey’s statements during a radio interview raised eyebrows. He admitted to not taking notes while interviewing the lobbyist. The lobbyist also indicated McCuskey might not have recorded the interview, which he did not deny, citing victim confidentiality as a concern.
The Chicago Tribune had earlier reported details of the allegations against Benton, including those from a Benton staffer and the lobbyist. Another woman’s accusation involved Benton touching her inappropriately at a Springfield bar.
The lobbyist outlined further criticisms against McCuskey in her letter. She accused him of breaching confidentiality by contacting her business associate and mother. Additionally, McCuskey allegedly shared details about another victim with her.
She also described inappropriate remarks made by McCuskey regarding her appearance during the interview, which she found concerning. The lobbyist voiced alarm about her confidentiality being jeopardized when she left McCuskey’s office and potentially being seen by a legislator.
Republican state Rep. Jeff Keicher from Sycamore, chair of the Legislative Ethics Commission, stated that the issues raised are being taken seriously. He declined to discuss specifics due to the commission’s confidential nature. The commission consists of eight members, equally split between Democratic and Republican legislators.