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Efforts to distance himself from Harry Benton controversy not working for Speaker Welch
Ill. Rep. Kelly Cassidy declines to join the Workplace Culture and Accountability Working Group in Springfield created by Illinois House Speaker Chris “Emanuel” Welch
Illinois House Speaker Chris “Emanuel” Welch is having a hard time distancing himself from the growing controversy involving State Rep. Harry Benton.
Despite being accused of sexual harassment, Welch did little to address the problem, a major political faux pas, until he was dragged into the controversy years later and is now struggling to get out fromm under it.
Welch’s problem is he is listening to the wrong advisers, whose interests don’t alway salign with his own.
Once in the spotlight, Welch created the “House Culture and Accountability Working Group” and named legislators as members including women legislators but without their consent or permission.
One of those is State Rep. Kelly Cassidy who raised some significant issues this week explaining how she was never got answers to her questions to Welch or his advisers.
Rep. Kellly declined to join the group, the signal of a serious problem for Welch’s efforts to distance himself from the growing controversy.
Here is Rep. Cassidy’s press release:
CHICAGO, Ill. – Rep. Kelly Cassidy responded to the announcement of a new working group on sexual harassment in Springfield today with the following statement:
“Prior to agreeing to serve on the working group, I asked a series of questions in order to ensure that the group would offer more than lip service or a PR stunt. My questions were not answered. Instead, my name was leaked as part of this process without my agreement. I’m disappointed, as I believe a working group on this topic could be necessary and important. But we have a responsibility to victims and survivors to ensure any such body is credible and effective, and I currently do not have confidence it will be. As such, I will not be participating at this time.”
Welch’s responses to the Benton controversy has been dodgy. According to Politico, Welch reacted by saying, “hindsight is 20-20.”
Not very forthcoming, unfortunately, but clearly some consultant’s effort thinking it will help push the issue aside.
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