Why Are Accusations Against Lawmaker Making National Headlines?

LAKE COUNTY, IL – First-term Republican state Rep. Nick Sauer, who also happened to sit on the anti-sexual harassment task force in the Illinois Assembly, resigned Wednesday evening amidst allegations by a former girlfriend that he created a fake Instagram account where he posted nude photos of her. The news, which Politico broke Wednesday, isn't that uncommon in an age where social media and politics are mixing. But new of Sauer's resignation seems to have struck a chord and is being reported nationwide with articles found in the New York Times, Washington Post and across the nation (and world).

But, why?

Fortune is reporting the details of Sauer's case are just too juicy for media outlets to pass up.

Kate Kelly, Sauer's ex, filed an official complaint with the Office of the Legislative Inspector General against Sauer, R-Lake Barrington, according to Politico. Kelly also filed a police report with the Chicago Police Department, which has an active investigation underway.

The complaint claims Sauer used a fake Instagram account "to catfish other men using my privately shared naked photos," according to Politico."Nick would use this account to direct message men with my photos to engage in graphic conversations of a sexual nature. The men believed they were communicating with me and Nick shared private details of my life.”

Kelly told Politico in an emailed statement she moved from California to the Chicago in June 2017 to be with Nick and they had been dating for two years before she broke up with him in March, when she found out he was dating other women. Sauer apologized to Kelly in June in a long email and sent three dozen roses to her at work. She told him he needed to pay her back for expenses she accrued for hotels and flights during their relationship and he transferred $2,000 to her bank account, according to Politico.

Soon after, she learned of the fake Instagram account.

In her complaint, Kelly writes:"He came to my house & confessed to catfishing men with my photos for 2 years to at least 8 men. He was unable to provide the names and begged that I let it go,” according to the Fortune article.

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Catfishing is a term that means to lure someone into a relationship by means of a fictional online persona. And while the act is not illegal in Illinois it is, according to the Fortune article, "just sad." In Illinois, posting sexually explicit images without permission is considered a felony with a maximum punishment of up to three years in prison and $25,000 fine.

Soon after the allegations surfaced, Sen. Melinda Bush, D-Grayslake, called on Sauer to resign.

“Rep. Nick Sauer should resign from his office immediately. For far too long in Springfield, sexual harassment and abuse from those in positions of power has gone unchecked," she said. "I applaud this woman for coming forward and telling her story. Women must have confidence that when they come forward with stories of abuse that the systems in place will hear them and believe them. Without accountability there can be no change.”

No criminal charges had been filed against Sauer as of Wednesday evening, according to media reports.

In a statement Wednesday evening, Sauer, who was up for re-election in November in the 51st District, wrote he had decided to resign due to the allegations from his ex. While he did not admit fault, he did say his decision to resign from his post lied in the fact that he would not be able to fulfill his duties to his district since he would be "affected by the distraction of addressing these allegations."

"It has been an honor and a privilege to have served in the Illinois House of Representatives," according to Sauer's statement. As of Thursday morning, his official websites and Facebook pages were no long available after apparently being deleted or no longer available for public view.

Sauer is a former Lake County Board member and also served on the Barrington 220 Board of Education.

More via Politico

Photo via the Illinois General Assembly website