Harassment Allegations Against Rep. Lou Lang Dismissed

CHICAGO — The inspector general for state lawmakers has cleared a former senior deputy to House Speaker Mike Madigan of allegations of sexual harassment and other improper behavior. Former medical marijuana advocate Maryann Loncar accused Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie), the No. 3 Democrat in the Illinois House at the time, of a variety of misconduct at a May 31 press conference. The accusations included inappropriate touching, threats and entertaining a $170 million "bribe."

In response to the press conference, Lang immediately resigned his roles as deputy majority leader and on legislative committees and requested an immediate investigation into the allegations, which he described as absurd.

Julie Porter, the Evanston-based attorney appointed special legislative inspector general to investigate complaints against members of the Illinois General Assembly, found the allegations unfounded, according to a Sept. 5 letter to Lang. Loncar refused to participate in the investigation and called the the process "a joke."

Porter said she attempted to reach Loncar by mail, email and Facebook but her overtures had been ignored.

"My investigation was necessarily limited by Loncar's unwillingness to speak with me or otherwise participate in my review of her allegations. Nevertheless, I did interview other witnesses and review documents available to me in an effort to determine whether Loncar's claims are founded," Porter said. "I do not find a preponderance of evidence to support the claims that Loncar made at her press conference."

Porter said the evidence did not sustain allegations Lang threatened to "bury" Loncar to her ex-husband, who reportedly denied the threat ever happened, or that Lang was offered a $170 million kickback at a meeting that Loncar did not attend.

As for sexual harassment, Porter said one witness told her he saw Lang place his arm around Loncar "low on her back" before she moved away.

During her press conference, Loncar said Lang had made her "very uncomfortable" by putting his hand on her lower back below the underwear line, asking her if her husband knew "how lucky he is to have a wife like you." Loncar said she rebuffed Lang's repeated sexual advances and suffered retaliation. Lang said the incident "simply did not occur," according to Porter's letter.

“Given her unwillingness to speak to me, and taking her descriptions and those of her colleague at face value, I do not have sufficient evidence to support a conclusion that such occurrences, if they even happened, constituted sexual harassment,” Porter wrote.

In a statement in response to Porter's letter, Lang said he had been proved right. He has not said if he plans to return to his House leadership positions.

"As I said publicly on May 31, when the allegations were made, the allegations were absurd and false and remain so today. Therefore, I welcome the Inspector General’s conclusion that completely dismisses the allegations as ‘unfounded,'" Lang said. "As far as I’m concerned, I have been vindicated and this matter is now closed.”

Loncar responded to Porter's letter Thursday with a statement critical of the investigation. She said it was clear that Porter had not taken her claims seriously.

"It is ridiculous to think that any person who feels victimized by a member of the House or Senate would be consoled to reveal their plight to a hand-picked I.G. appointed by the Speaker of House," Loncar said. "What I have seen played out since my press conference confirms everything I assumed about having a Legislative Inspector General appointed by the Speaker of the House: it is a joke. The joke is on the victims. The joke is on the Illinois taxpayers."

Lang is the second senior Democratic state lawmaker to be cleared of sexual harassment by Porter since she was appointed to the position last fall. Porter released a report in January finding that Sen. Ira Silverstein (D-Chicago) engaged in conduct "unbecoming of a legislator" in violation of state ethics law but had not technically committed sexual harassment. Silverstein, who had been the head of the Senate Democratic Caucus, was defeated in the March primary after earning less than 30 percent of the vote in the 10th District, which overlaps with Lang's 16th District.

Sept. 5 Letter from Special Legislative Inspector General to Rep. Lou Lang

Statement from Maryann Loncar in response to Porter's letter:

Earlier this year I made it known that State Rep. Lou Lang was inappropriate in his actions and dealings with me, an unpaid advocate for medical marijuana and the Farmers hemp bill. While I had not originally planned to go public with my issue, it became increasingly clear to me that Illinois offers little if any resources for those who feel that they have been harassed or witnessed improper conduct by an elected official of the Illinois Legislature.

Illinois has a hand-picked Legislative Inspector General, a position that was just recently filled after a near 4-year vacancy. With no disrespect to Legislative Inspector General Julia Porter, it is ridiculous to think that any person who feels victimized by a member of the House or Senate would be consoled to reveal their plight to a hand-picked I.G. appointed by the Speaker of House.

The sequence of events after my press conference are very telling. To be clear, State Rep. Lang filed his own complaint to the Legislative I.G. I did not file a complaint.

I originally stated that I did not trust the system in place to investigate my allegations. Several weeks after the press conference I received a “friend request” from Julia Porter on Facebook. Despite every media outlet being able to contact me, despite State Rep. Lang himself having my phone number, this was the first method of contact from the Legislative I.G. to me. Ask yourself if this is the sort of professionalism you would expect from an Inspector General to a victim of harassment. Clearly, I was not being taken seriously.

There is not coordination of efforts in Illinois legislature when it comes to victims of harassment. In fact, it seems to me that after my press conference and the subsequent number of other victims who came out publicly with allegations of harassment, Illinois is on damage control.

While I.G. Porter was attempting to friend me on Facebook, I received a voicemail from yet a second “Special” Legislative I.G. inviting me to come in to her office. In fact, as the Sun-Times reports today on the supposed vindication of State Rep Lang, one which comes suspiciously on the heels of the November election, I am holding in my hand a letter that I received from Special Legislative Inspector General Margaret Hickey inviting me to come to her office. I received this letter just a few days ago.

So what is it? State Rep. Lang is vindicated by Legislative I.G. Porter? Or the allegations of State Rep Lang need to be investigated by “Special” Legislative I.G. Hickey? There are two Inspector Generals being paid tax dollars and neither of them seem aware of each other’s existence. What I have seen played out since my press conference confirms everything I assumed about having a Legislative Inspector General appointed by the Speaker of the House: it is a joke. The joke is on the victims. The joke is on the Illinois taxpayers.

My allegations are no joking matter. My allegations deserve a proper look. I am confident in my decision to not partake in the ruse of the two I.G.’s. I have no further comment to make as this is an ongoing investigation.

Related:

• Sen. Silverstein Resigns From Chair Amid Sexual Harassment Claims
• Mike Madigan Fires Longtime Staffer Over 'Unwanted Advances'
• 2nd Senior Madigan Aide Out Over Alleged 'Inappropriate Behavior'
• 'Teasing And Flirtatious' Sen. Silverstein Didn't Harass: Report