According to Capitol Fax, State Representative Murri Briel has stepped down from Speaker Chris Welch’s Workplace Culture and Accountability Working Group, adding another setback to an initiative that was supposed to address workplace culture in the Illinois House but has instead turned into a publicity stunt that has only resulted in bad press.

Briel's departure comes amid allegations involving her conduct toward a former employee, including allegations that she supplied drugs in her campaign office and sexually harassed a former employee.

Speaker Welch created the Workplace Culture and Accountability Working Group in an attempt to save face, but the group is already falling apart before it even gets off the ground.

Two Democratic lawmakers whose names were floated for the group have declined to participate, while even Governor Pritzker has questioned whether a working group is the right approach.

After weeks of defending his handling of the Harry Benton scandal, Speaker Chris Welch is now attempting to rehabilitate his image with a desperate attempt at the creation of a new Workplace Culture and Accountability Working Group. Unfortunately, the group appears to be more about repairing the Speaker's political standing than repairing the culture of the Illinois House. 

In an effort to preserve his power, Speaker Chris Welch launched a media tour to defend his handling of the Harry Benton scandal. But with each interview, he offers a different explanation with more excuses. First it was due process. Then it was respecting the survivor's wishes. Now it’s reported that he just dismisses complaints that come into his office.

 

The excuses keep changing, but the outcome stayed the same: Speaker Welch covered up sexual harassment allegations. 

When Speaker Welch first took the gavel, he promised a "new day" in the Illinois House following the downfall of his mentor and predecessor, Michael Madigan. Yet despite those promises of reform, it is becoming increasingly clear that they are ringing hollow.

Following the resignation of former State Representative Harry Benton, the Chicago Tribune is reporting a young female staffer came to Speaker Chris Welch's office in 2023 to report harassment allegations against Benton. According to the Tribune, the Speaker's office slow-walked the case and failed to reprimand former Rep. Benton. Another cover-up for Speaker Welch, following a playbook that is all too familiar.

In April of this year, when asked whether former State Representative Harry Benton should resign, Speaker Welch said, “We also have to talk about victims. We’re gonna respect victims.”

His remarks are a complete contradiction from his actions in 2023.

Earlier this week, Speaker Welch took a victory lap for the way House Democrats passed their end-of-session agenda, including the largest budget in Illinois history and $800 million in new tax hikes.

During a press conference, Speaker Welch praised Democrats' approach, stating:

"By using our processes and taking the time to listen and to get it right, we delivered finished products that were better than we could have ever imagined."

What Speaker Welch failed to mention was the lack of transparency, the suspension of House rules to take up bills quicker, and the fact that Illinois families will ultimately be left footing the bill.

According to the Chicago Police Department, Alphanso Talley has now been charged in the heinous murder of a Chicago police officer and the attempted murder of another officer, along with a long list of additional felony charges.

 
At the time of this horrific attack, Talley was wanted on three warrants, was on parole in two separate cases, and had a lengthy criminal history dating back to 2017. 

During remarks earlier this month at the City Club of Chicago, Speaker Welch claimed that Democrats are working to bring down the cost of living. That statement is difficult to square with reality, given how much Democratic policies have increased costs for Illinois families over just the past year.

Since May of last year alone, Democrats have driven up the cost of living through a series of tax hikes and expensive policy decisions. 

The web of alleged deceit, lies, and corruption tied to Illinois House Democrats has been well-chronicled in the last several years, with the latest example being the conviction of former House Speaker Michael Madigan’s Chief of Staff Timothy Mapes on perjury and obstruction of justice charges in August. It was during that trial that another scandal was uncovered, as a top Democratic strategy firm was found to have been advising Madigan while at the same time providing support to the woman who accused one of his aides of sexual harassment and his inner circle of retaliation.