(CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Last Friday’s release of the legislative inspector general’s report about former State Rep. Harry Benton (pictured) gave reporters Tuesday another chance to question Gov. JB Pritzker about the investigation, which has also caught up House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch (D-Hillside).
Pritzker did not focus on Benton or Welch but, rather, the process. “I think what the report reveals to me is the holes in the system, that it didn’t operate the way that I think was intended originally, and that it needs fixing. And so I look forward to the House members in particular putting forward fixes and making sure that that is addressed,” Pritzker said after signing a bill in Chicago. “I’m sure that the speaker will be engaged in that process. I assume he will.”
Benton was accused of sexual harassment against a staff member. Welch reportedly sat on the allegations for three years before acting. And Welch reportedly acted in a questionable fashion toward the same staffer, inviting her to a bar and using emojis to like her social media posts.
Pritzker again, when asked about Welch’s future as speaker, only said that’s up to members of the House.
