A report by the legislative inspector general disclosed that former state Rep. Harry Benton breached state law through acts of sexual harassment. The report, released Friday, also unveiled a third female victim, a legislative staffer disturbed by Benton’s behavior at a Springfield bar last year.

The report leaves out critical details regarding Democratic House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch’s response to initial allegations raised by a Benton staffer three years prior. Despite the allegations, Welch allocated $1.4 million to Benton’s reelection campaign the following year. It wasn’t until a female lobbyist encountered Benton in a Chicago bar in January, where he allegedly made inappropriate comments, that action was taken.

The investigation, detailed in a seven-page report by Legislative Inspector General Michael McCuskey, initiated on March 4 after Welch’s office filed a complaint. The investigation follows previous reports by The Tribune regarding Benton’s actions toward two women, his former young staffer, and a lobbyist.

A new complaint by a legislative district office director revealed that Benton harassed her at a bar during the 2025 Latino Unity Day events in Springfield. The report detailed that Benton leaned over her, placing a hand on her back, making her uncomfortable. McCuskey characterized that complaint as ‘founded’ and questioned Benton regarding incidents with all three women on May 29.

In his denials, Benton stated, “I don’t hit on lobbyists,” which McCuskey deemed ‘not credible.’ The inspector general’s findings regard the 2026 and 2025 complaints involving the lobbyist and district office director as ‘founded.’ However, due to a statute of limitations, the findings from 2023 involving his former staffer remained unresolved. The former Benton staffer had hoped for a career in government but was discouraged by the inaction of the leaders around her.

McCuskey noted Benton’s participation in a 2022 ethics and harassment conference, highlighting the irony of Benton’s continued misconduct thereafter. Welch’s office was informed of Benton’s inappropriate behavior in 2023, yet waited several months to confront him. This delay resulted in the resignation of the complainant, the ex-Benton staffer, for mental health reasons.

While Welch’s office later initiated disciplinary action following complaints by a lobbyist, communication between Welch and the women involved has drawn criticism. The handling has raised questions about Welch’s engagement with the case, and while some groups have supported him, others have pushed back, seeking transparency and accountability from Welch and his office.

Gov. JB Pritzker emphasized the necessity for Welch to address the public and his members transparently about the issue, while McCuskey’s report made no judgment on Welch’s actions. The inspector general dismissed some allegations against Benton as unfounded due to lack of evidence or relevance to harassment.

McCuskey’s report concludes Benton’s conduct violated state law, highlighting the misuse of training and the potential minimization of such misdemeanors. Despite Welch eventually calling for Benton’s resignation, Benton voluntarily left his position and withdrew from his reelection campaign. McCuskey recommended Benton’s continued exclusion from Democratic activities.

The timing of McCuskey’s findings and subsequent actions stirred debates within the legislature. Democrats appointed Jessica Dixon Heitman to replace Benton as his term nears its end.