PLAINFIELD, IL — The speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives is calling on State Rep. Harry Benton, a Plainfield resident and former trustee for the village, to resign from his post following a completed investigation into allegations of misconduct.
"The Legislative Inspector General's findings reveal clear patterns of conduct by Representative Benton that are outrageous, unethical, and unbecoming of a member of the Illinois House of Representatives," House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch (D-Hillside) said in statement released Wednesday evening.
Benton, first elected in 2023, was removed from all eight of his committee assignments, including the House Democratic Caucus, and stripped of support from the speaker's office in February, Patch reported.
"Effective immediately," Welch said Wednesday, "and at the recommendation of the Inspector General, those actions will remain in place permanently."
RELATED: Harry Benton No Longer Welcome At House Democratic Caucus Meetings: Reports
Welch said he notified the House chief ethics officer of the allegations of misconduct, who referred the case to the legislative inspector general for a "thorough, fair, and independent investigation."
It remains unclear what misconduct occurred to prompt an investigation. Welch said his office has refrained from commenting on "to protect the privacy of those who came forward, preserve the integrity of the investigation, respect due process, and comply with the guidance and legal requirements established in our ethics procedures."
A prior report from The Illinoize said Benton removed over allegations of sexual harassment.
"I spoke directly with Representative Benton and called for his immediate resignation from the Illinois House of Representatives," Welch said. "If he does not resign, we will initiate the process of expelling him from the House."
Benton's office did not respond to Patch's request for comment at the time of publication.
Up for reelection for the third time, Benton is running unopposed in the Democratic primary to represent District 97. In November's election, he will again face Republican Gabby Shanahan, whom he beat in 2022 by 2,335 votes.
He served as a trustee in Plainfield for four years, from 2019 through 2023, when he joined the House of Representatives.
Shanahan used the opportunity to persuade voters that, if elected, she will lead with honesty and integrity.
"At a time when our families need fresh leadership, I’m running to bring honesty and integrity back to our district," she said in a statement. "For too long, families have watched prices rise, taxes increase, and their faith in government erode because of dishonest politicians and dishonest politics.
"This November, voters have a better choice: more of the same, or a new generation of leadership built on integrity, accountability, and service. I'll always be honest. I'll always put the people of this district first. And I'll show up every single day to work for lower prices, lower property taxes, and a government worthy of your trust."
The House Republican Organization called Benton "a disgrace" in its statement.
"One way or another, he won't be a state representative come January," the organization said Wednesday. "He can leave through the front door, or the voters can throw him out in November."
Sign up for free local newsletters and alerts for the
Plainfield, IL Patch
Patch.com is the nationwide leader in hyperlocal news.
Visit Patch.com to find your town today.