2nd Senior Madigan Aide Out Over Alleged 'Inappropriate Behavior'

CHICAGO, IL — Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan has cut ties with a longtime aide for the second time. The leader of the state Democratic Party issued a statement Monday following reports that Shaw Decremer was the second high-ranking Madigan operative to be removed in response to allegations of misconduct.

Madigan said he was informed about "inappropriate behavior by a volunteer toward a candidate and staff" that took place during the 2016 election. He met with the individual, who he did not name, as well as the person who raised the complaint, who assured him that "the situation had been appropriately resolved," he said in the statement.

"The individual will no longer be involved with any activities of my political committees," he said.

"I quickly made sure the individual had no participation in any activities my committees are involved in. I offered to refer the matter to outside counsel and that offer was declined," Madigan said. "The complainant and I met with the individual and the complainant assured me that the situation had been appropriately resolved.

Multiple sources told WMAQ-TV, which first reported Madigan had cut ties with Decremer, that he had been working as a political consultant on the speaker's behalf during the current campaign cycle. Prior to that, Decremer had been a Madigan supervisor on many campaigns and had overseen workers campaign workers embedded in races around the state.

The former House Democratic staffer and noted expert in election petitions started his own lobbying firm after the 2012 election. He represents major clients like ComEd, major daily fantasy sports companies, Dish Network and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, according to the Illinois Secretary of State's Office.

The gubernatorial campaign of Sen. Daniel Biss called on Madigan to resign from his position atop the state party in "the best interest of justice and truth, and to protect the women who have bravely come forward."

“Time’s up for Mike Madigan and the political machine he controls," Biss, of Evanston, and his running mate, Rep. Litesa Wallace of Rockford said Monday in a statement. "Madigan had an opportunity to lead, and chose to make more backroom deals. These actions demonstrate he cannot and should not lead our party, and also cause us to seriously question his role as Speaker of the House."

Chris Kennedy last week called on Madigan to step down temporarily until an investigation is completed.

"In the course of further investigation, if it is found that Speaker Madigan knew about these allegations and chose to protect his machine political allies instead of the women who were abused by them, he no longer can lead our party," be said. "This behavior reinforces that there is a corrupt system in place in Springfield that allows behavior like this to go on, even protecting those who perpetrate it."

A former campaign worker who went public with allegations of sexual harassment against her then-supervisor Kevin Quinn, a longtime Madigan aide and younger brother to Ald. Marty Quinn, believes Madigan did not act quick enough in responding to her complaints. She later said local Democrats have been trying to intimidate and vilify her for coming forward.

In his statement, Madigan said he does not "tolerate inappropriate behavior or abuse of any kind."

Sources told the Chicago Tribune that state Rep. Deb Conroy and several staffers contacted Madigan within the past week to complain about Decremer. She told the Tribune it was "not sexual harassment per se," and characterized the inappropriate behavior as an "abuse of power." She told the paper she felt the matter has now been handled.

According to the Tribune, the 43-year-old Decremer is known for his "sharp elbows." In 2016, he was sued for filing paperwork for candidates who allegedly did not campaign in order to dilute any anti-Madigan voers. And ahead of the 2012 Democratic primary, he showed up to the office of a candidate that Madigan's organization had decided not to back. He reportedly walked around the office criticizing the campaign of Democrat Carole Cheney before she asked him to leave, the paper reported. Before he did, he asked to snap a photo with her.

"I keep pictures of all the people we beat," he reportedly told the candidate, who indeed headed to defeat. Decremer has not responded to a message seeking comment.

Related:

• Madigan Chief Of Staff Forced Out Following Harassment Claims
• 2nd Senior Madigan Aide Out Over Alleged 'Inappropriate Behavior'