Calls made for ethics reform in Springfield; GOP says misconduct is a pattern

By Sean Reed | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – After one Illinois state lawmaker resigned last week following the conclusion of an investigation into claims of sexual harassment and another was federally indicted Tuesday, Republican state lawmakers are calling for stronger ethics rules in Springfield.

House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch told members of the media he thinks the federal wire fraud and witness tampering charges brought against Rep. Carol Ammons, D-Champaign, are serious and worth further investigation by the legislature.

Welch said he takes the charges seriously, but also believes in due process, which is why he hasn’t called for her to resign.

“She’s presumed innocent until proven guilty. She has every right to due process, but these are some very serious allegations. Let’s not be mistaken by that,” Welch said. “I have to take them seriously, and that’s why I’ve temporarily suspended her from the caucus and committees and use of our staff.”

He made similar comments while former Rep. Harry Benton was under investigation over his alleged misconduct.

Across the aisle, House Minority Leader Tony McCombie disagreed with Welch during a news conference Thursday.

“These are serious allegations involving taxpayer dollars and the public trust. This is no longer an isolated incident. It has become a pattern,” McCombie said. “Illinois cannot continue to operate this way. Carol Ammons should resign immediately. Speaker Welch should publicly call for her resignation as he has demanded in other cases.”

Welch previously said members have complained about processes moving too slowly since he became speaker. He said the slow movement is because as the leader, he seeks to follow the rules in place.

McCombie agreed when asked if an investigation should take place over the conduct of Ammons at the state level. Welch said the matter was for the attorney general’s office to decide.

GOP lawmakers introduced a set of ethics reform bills this legislative session that have yet to progress.

One bill, sponsored by McCombie, would prohibit lawmakers from using campaign funds to pay for legal defense in any criminal case, or civil cases related to misconduct as a public official, sexual harassment or discrimination.

The bill was introduced in late January 2025, more than a year before Ammons was charged and Benton was investigated.

Republican spokesperson on the House Ethics and Elections Committee, Rep. Patrick Windhorst, R-Metropolis, said he wasn’t aware of any hearings of the committee being planned, but said he would like to see that happen.

“We’ve seen very little to no ethics legislation come out of the ethics and elections committee in prior years. And in fact Rep. Ammons served on that committee until her indictment. I believe we should be meeting as a committee discussing what we can address, and make sure we are tightening up our laws,” Windhorst said.

Welch didn’t rule out the potential to form an investigative commission to look into Ammons, but he wasn’t sure because the indictment is so recent.

The speaker said both his and Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s offices are reviewing the most recent state budget more closely to identify any potentially troublesome state grants going to nonprofits.

“She’s entitled to due process, and I believe that the court system is the proper place for that to happen. However, we have processes in place that, if they are invoked, we will use those processes. That is the right of our members. If those processes are invoked, we will use those,” Welch said of the potential for an ethics investigation by the House.