Welch Still Isn't Talking About Harry Benton
House Speaker Chris Welch.
House Speaker Chris Welch has been publicly silent since a move in February to remove Rep. Harry Benton (D-Plainfield) from the House Democratic Caucus, including stripping him of all of his committee assignments.
Sources told us at the time that Benton had been accused of sexual harassment, but Welch’s office has continually responded to questions about Benton with “no comment.”
Benton, by the way, was in Springfield again this week. He still hasn’t returned my calls or texts.
We’ve heard from multiple Democrats that they were told in caucus a few weeks ago that the issue was forwarded to the Legislative Inspector General.
I had LIG Mike McCuskey on the radio this week and asked him about Benton. McCuskey replied “who?” signaling he wouldn’t confirm any active investigation.
I asked Welch about Benton at the end of his short availability yesterday. I asked if the public deserved “transparency” about the Benton issue.
As his spokesperson tried to cut us off (it was the end of the avail), Welch looked up at me and walked away without saying a word.
