Dan Caulkins is convinced Illinois voters have had enough of House Speaker Mike Madigan’s longtime pattern of abuse.
“The recent sexual harassment allegations against several of Speaker Madigan’s top aides are part of a disturbing pattern of disregard for the victims in these situations, and willingness to protect the political elite,” Caulkins, a Decatur Republican running for the seat held by retiring Rep. Bill Mitchell (R-Forsyth) in the 101st District, told the Chambana Sun. “From the last few months I’ve spent knocking on doors and talking with hundreds of people in my district. I can tell you that voters are fed up with the corrupt politics and career politicians in Springfield – Democrat or Republican. This behavior must not be tolerated.”
Former Madigan political staffer Alaina Hampton recently stepped forward to allege harassment by longtime Madigan operative Kevin Quinn, her direct supervisor and the brother of Chicago alderman and fellow Madigan ally Marty Quinn.
Hampton further alleged that her complaint was ignored by Madigan and other high-powered members of his organization.
According to the Chicago Tribune, Hampton alleges her issues with Quinn date back to 2016, when he started sending her inappropriate text messages and asking her out on dates.
She said in February 2017, she formally filed a complaint with Marty Quinn, one of Madigan’s top lieutenants.
By April of that year, Hampton had walked away from her job altogether after coming to believe her persistent complaints were largely being ignored.
She said she feels there was a cover up because she sent a letter to Madigan’s home in late 2017, but again no action was taken against Kevin Quinn until a day after she went public with her story.
Hampton has also filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and she and her attorneys now plang to file suit against the Illinois Democratic Party and Friends of Mike Madigan.
“The fact that Madigan condoned this behavior is absolutely unacceptable and he should be forced to resign from his positions as speaker of the House and head of the Democratic Party of Illinois,” Caulkins said. “Just days after Quinn was let go, a second high-ranking operative was removed from Madigan’s political organization for inappropriate behavior."
The ruckus in Madigan’s office comes as legislative leaders in Springfield grapple with the fallout of the office of the legislative inspector general having gone unfilled for roughly three years. The inspector general is responsible for investigating all ethics complaints, including allegations of sexual harassment.
During the time the position went unfilled, at least 27 complaints alleging harassment were filed, including one against Sen. Ira Silverstein (D-Chicago), who has since been found to have engaged in behavior “unbecoming a legislator” in his dealings with local activist Denise Rotheimer.
“These scandals come to light after it was revealed that the speaker failed to appoint someone to the position of legislative inspector general for three years, and allowed dozens of complaints of sexual harassment and misconduct to build up and go unaddressed,” Caulkins said.
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