Outgoing Illinois House Speaker Emanuel 'Chris' Welch has hired a Chicago law firm to evaluate workplace culture in his chamber, following internal Democratic backlash over his delayed response to sexual harassment allegations that will force him to step down from the leadership post.
The Prinz Law Firm received a $450,000 contract beginning Sept. 21 to help assess and address Springfield's entrenched culture of harassment, state records show. A spokesperson for Welch's office said they "retained the Prinz Law Firm in September to assess culture within the office and make recommendations for improvements. Their process is ongoing."
Attorney Kristen Prinz said her firm was "not engaged to investigate any particular issue but rather to help the Office of the Speaker and the Clerk assess and improve the workplace culture." She added, "We will be gathering feedback from staff and recommending policy and process changes to further trust, engagement and productivity. We are grateful to be a part of this effort towards making work better for the people who serve our state."
Welch came under fire this summer after a legislative inspector general's report confirmed the three-term speaker was aware of a complaint against former state Rep. Harry Benton almost three years before additional accusations prompted the Plainfield Democrat to resign. In the interim, Welch put $1.4 million behind Benton's reelection campaign, later claiming he had no choice but to support a member because the initial complainant declined to file a formal complaint.
Welch, who has himself faced allegations of misconduct over the years, has since expressed regret over how he handled the case and apologized for social media interactions with the complainant that made her uncomfortable. He established a House culture and accountability working group, but that was not enough for an insurmountable bloc of Democrats who publicly announced last week they would not support him for a fourth term as speaker. He soon announced he would step aside from the post while remaining a rank-and-file lawmaker.
In a message sent to Democratic lawmakers and staffers, Welch's office said the outside firm's review is "intended to be as independent as possible" and that Welch "will not be directing it or otherwise managing it." His office told members, "We believe a strong, inclusive, and respectful workplace culture is essential for everyone's success and long-term growth. And we understand that is an ongoing process that needs to be regularly evaluated and updated."
Several Democrats are jockeying to succeed Welch as speaker, with maneuvering expected to intensify next week as lawmakers return to the Capitol for the fall veto session.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The contract represents a formal effort to address workplace culture in the Illinois House after a scandal that forced the speaker to step down, affecting the working environment for hundreds of staffers and lawmakers.
- The outcome could set a precedent for how other state legislatures handle harassment complaints and culture assessments.
- With a leadership race underway, the review's findings may influence the tone and policies of the next speaker.
Background
Welch became speaker after Michael Madigan was ousted amid complaints about his inaction on sexual harassment allegations, before Madigan's conviction on federal corruption charges. The current scandal involves Welch's awareness of a complaint against Rep. Harry Benton; a legislative inspector general's report confirmed Welch knew of the complaint nearly three years before additional accusations led to Benton's resignation. Welch funneled $1.4 million toward Benton's reelection. A bloc of House Democrats announced they would not support Welch for a fourth term, prompting him to step down as speaker while remaining a lawmaker.
Key Perspectives
Speaker Chris Welch's office: says the Prinz firm was hired to "assess culture within the office and make recommendations for improvements," that the review is "intended to be as independent as possible," and that the speaker will not direct or manage it.
Attorney Kristen Prinz (Prinz Law Firm): says the firm was "not engaged to investigate any particular issue but rather to help the Office of the Speaker and the Clerk assess and improve the workplace culture," and will gather staff feedback and recommend policy and process changes.
House Democrats opposed to Welch: last week publicly announced they would not support him for a fourth term as speaker, leading to his decision to step aside.
What to Watch
- Whether the Prinz Law Firm's recommendations are made public and adopted by the next speaker.
- The timing and outcome of the speaker election, with several Democrats vying for the position.
- Any further legislative action on sexual harassment policy in the Illinois House.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedWelch hired a Chicago law firm to evaluate workplace culture after backlash over his response to sexual harassment allegations.Chicago Sun-Times: “Outgoing Illinois House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch, D-Hillside, has enlisted a Loop law firm to evaluate workplace culture in his chamber, following intra-caucus outrage over his delayed response to sexual harassment allegations”
- SupportedThe allegations will force Welch to relinquish the speaker’s post.Chicago Sun-Times: “sexual harassment allegations that will soon force him to relinquish the gavel .”
- SupportedWelch’s office awarded the Prinz Law Firm a $450,000 contract.Chicago Sun-Times: “The Prinz Law Firm received a $450,000 contract that began Sept. 21”
- SupportedThe contract began Sept. 21.Chicago Sun-Times: “The Prinz Law Firm received a $450,000 contract that began Sept. 21”
- SupportedA spokesperson for Welch’s office said the firm was retained in September to assess office culture and recommend improvements, and that its process was ongoing.Chicago Sun-Times: “A spokesperson for Welch’s office said they “retained the Prinz Law Firm in September to assess culture within the office and make recommendations for improvements. Their process is ongoing."”
- SupportedKristen Prinz said the firm was not engaged to investigate a particular issue, but to help assess and improve workplace culture.Chicago Sun-Times: “Attorney Kristen Prinz noted her firm was “not engaged to investigate any particular issue but rather to help the Office of the Speaker and the Clerk assess and improve the workplace culture.””
- SupportedPrinz said the firm would gather staff feedback and recommend policy and process changes to further trust, engagement and productivity.Chicago Sun-Times: ““We will be gathering feedback from staff and recommending policy and process changes to further trust, engagement and productivity,” Prinz said in an email.”
- SupportedAn inspector general’s report confirmed Welch knew of a complaint against Harry Benton almost three years before further accusations prompted Benton to resign.Chicago Sun-Times: “a legislative inspector general’s report confirmed the three-term speaker was aware of a complaint against ex-state Rep. Harry Benton almost three years before additional accusations prompted the Plainfield Democrat to resign.”
- SupportedWelch put $1.4 million behind Benton’s reelection campaign and later said he had no choice but to support him because the initial complainant declined to file a formal complaint.Chicago Sun-Times: “Welch put $1.4 million behind Benton’s reelection campaign, later claiming he had no choice but to support a member because the initial complainant declined to file a formal complaint.”
- SupportedWelch expressed regret about how he handled the case and apologized for social media interactions that made the complainant uncomfortable.Chicago Sun-Times: “Welch — who has faced allegations of misconduct himself over the years — has since expressed regret over the way he handled the case, and he apologized for social media interactions with the complainant that made her uncomfortable.”
- SupportedA bloc of Democrats said last week it would not support Welch for a fourth term as speaker, and Welch then said he would step aside while remaining a rank-and-file lawmaker.Chicago Sun-Times: “an insurmountable bloc of Democrats who publicly announced last week they wouldn’t support him for a fourth term as speaker. He soon announced he’d step aside from the post while remaining a rank-and-file lawmaker.”
- SupportedWelch’s office told lawmakers the review was intended to be as independent as possible and that Welch would not direct or manage it.Chicago Sun-Times: “Welch’s office said the outside firm’s review is “intended to be as independent as possible” and that he “will not be directing it or otherwise managing it.””