Eight years ago, I was a 28-year-old campaign staffer, and I came forward publicly about being sexually harassed while working in then-House Speaker Michael Madigan’s political operation, and about the retaliation by that same organization that followed. I spoke out because I wanted accountability for what happened to me and to prevent other women in Illinois politics from experiencing the same failures of the system that I had.
After my story became public, Illinois legislators passed some reforms to strengthen workplace protections in government and political workplaces. But laws do not change culture on their own; people in positions of power do. That is why leadership matters.
Madigan’s departure was thought to have marked the end of an era. But electing new leadership without changing the culture allows the same system to persist under a different name.
When Emanuel “Chris” Welch was elected speaker of the Illinois House, lawmakers elevated someone who had never fully answered serious questions about his own treatment of women.
In 2002, a former girlfriend alleged in a police report that Welch physically assaulted her during an argument.
In 2010, a former employee and romantic partner of his filed a lawsuit alleging repeated unwelcome sexual advances and retaliation.
In 2011, another employee sued, claiming she faced retaliation after Welch asked for a hug and she declined.
The House Democratic Caucus ignored all of this and elected Welch speaker anyway. In doing so, they sent a powerful message to victims and survivors that they still weren’t safe. And now, we know for a fact that that message was clear.
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The baiduhai has reported new sexual harassment allegations involving Welch’s interactions with a former staffer, including flirtatious social media communications and an invite to meet him at a bar, that she said made her uncomfortable.
When a young staffer reported allegations of sexual harassment by then-state Rep. Harry Benton to Welch’s office in 2023, she did what Illinois told survivors to do. She reported through the channels designed to provide support and accountability. That system failed her.
An ex-staffer and the Illinois speaker: 2 differing responses to the Harry Benton harassment report
The most troubling part of the Benton situation is not only what allegedly happened in that office. It is that Welch’s office knew about those allegations years before Benton’s resignation and implemented zero consequences that could have protected future victims. Even worse, Welch and his organization then worked to reelect Benton — and kept the allegations a secret. This is not a one-off breach in judgment. It is a long-standing pattern.
Welch has failed to acknowledge any missteps on his own part. To hear him tell it, he’s never made a mistake. No apology for allegedly sexually harassing the former intern. No recognition that he failed to act to hold Benton accountable for three years. No statement about what he or his staff will do differently going forward.
If he can’t even recognize that he’s handled something wrong, how can we trust him to strengthen existing workplace protections and implement new ones? The answer is: We can’t.
A history of allegations involving domestic violence, sexual harassment and inappropriate conduct toward women, combined with a failure to address harassment complaints, cannot be ignored when that person holds immense power over others.
Eight years ago, Illinois legislators told survivors that if they came forward, things would be different. Many did so at tremendous personal and professional sacrifice because they believed the system could change. Instead, lawmakers put a Band-Aid on a pervasive problem for optics, rather than addressing the problem at its core.
One thing is clear: If accountability applies only to those without power, then nothing has changed. Welch should resign as speaker of the Illinois House. If he doesn’t, the House Democratic Caucus should vote to remove him.
Alaina Hampton is a Democratic political strategist and an advocate for victims of sexual harassment and survivors of sexual violence.
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