In 2019, after signing legislation to strengthen protections against workplace sexual harassment and support victims, Governor JB Pritzker declared that Illinois would no longer tolerate looking the other way.

At the bill signing, the Governor said:

"Sexual harassment is unacceptable and will not be tolerated in the state of Illinois."

He also promised:

"...This commonsense law makes it clear that the days of turning a blind eye to sexual harassment in the workplace are over."

Seven years later, those words ring hollow.

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.