Myalls: Silence from Local Democrats on Madigan Scandal

With all the attention the #MeToo movement has had, you would think it would be impossible for anyone - and in particular anyone in a serious leadership position - to ignore documented, unequivocal sexual harassment. You would be wrong.

Recent news stories report that Illinois Speaker of the House Mike Madigan flatly ignored plain evidence of harassment by a 40+ year-old political operative who worked for Madigan towards a young woman in her 20s working to advance the speaker's cause in the Democratic Party. There have been the predictable calls for Madigan's resignation by Republicans across the state, which just as predictably have been ignored.

Of course, it's easy to ignore condemnation when it comes only from your opponents. What do Laura Fine (running for State Senate, 9th District), Robyn Gabel, (State Representative, 18th District) and Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz (the Madigan-supported candidate running for State Representative in the 17th District) have to say these last few days in the midst of the news that their boss turned a blind eye to this harassment? Not a single word.

Laura Fine? On January 31, before this news broke, her Facebook page carried the message"#Time'sUp" with a call to action to wear black to demonstrate opposition to sexual harassment. But after the news broke about her boss? Silence. She did manage to wish her supporters Happy Valentine's Day, though.

Robyn Gabel? She also wore black on January 31 in condemnation of harassment. Since the Madigan news? Silence. Of course, it was her birthday a few days ago, so maybe she was busy.
Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz? She has received well over $50,000 from Madigan’s “Democratic Majority” in support of her bid against 4 other Democrats to secure the nomination to replace Fine in the 17th District. She refused to condemn Madigan, noting that she was in a position that was "uncomfortable to me," while disparaging her Democratic opponents, saying that it was easy for them to criticize the Speaker, since he wasn't supporting them.

The silent Democrats who are beholden to Madigan for their positions in Illinois government should be ashamed of themselves for their outrageous hypocrisy, wearing black to condemn sexual harassment one day, but refusing to condemn it the next, when Speaker Mike Madigan is the one guilty of knowingly permitting an employee to be harassed.

While I join my fellow Republicans in the call for Madigan to resign, I am equally outraged at his minions, who remain silent. They should know better.

Kathy Myalls is the New Trier Township Republican Committeeman