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GENERAL ASSEMBLY STATE OF ILLINOIS MICHAEL J. MADIGAN 00M 200 SPEAKER STATE HOUSE. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SPRINGFIELD, LUNOS 2708, May 22, 2018 Julie B. Porter, Special Legislative Inspector General 1010 Davis Street Evanston, IL 60201 Dear Special Inspector General Porter | am writing to ask that you investigate recent allegations of possible sexual harassment and retaliation made by State Representative Kelly Cassidy (see attached news articles) The allegations center around two events: (1) an inquiry about her outside employment made by my Chief of Staff, Tim Mapes, and (2) Representative Bob Rita's sponsorship of legislation and his comments to her and Sheriff Dart Myself and my staff will cooperate with any investigation into this matter. With kindest personal regards, | remain Sincerely yours, MICHAEL J. MADIGAN Speaker of the House ‘State Rep. Says She's Facing Retaliation for Speaking Out Against... http:/www-printhis.clickability,com’pUept2expire=€actior 1of2 pldepa, "%* NBCCHICAGO GEPRINTTHIS. Powered by fal State Rep. Says She’s Facing Retaliation for Speaking Out Against Madigan By Mary Ann Ahern Published at 244 PM COT on May 1, 2018| Updated at 748 PM CDT an May 21,2018 Democratic State Representative Kelly Cassidy says she was forced to resign from her job in Sheriff Tom Darts office after speaking out critically about House Speaker Mike Madigan’s plans to deal with sexual harassment at the State Capitol, NBC 3's Mary Ann Ahern has the details (Published Monday, May 21, 2018) ‘What to Know «# Rep. Kelly Cassidy was the lead voice calling for an investigation into sexual harassment allegations in Madigan's political office *+ She worked part-time as a program manager for the Cook County Sheriff's Justice Initiative working on ja related issues ‘+ Cassidy said she believes she is facing retaliation for speaking out, and had no choice but to resign from her position An Illinois lawmaker said Monday she was forced out of her job with the Cook County Sherif?s office, given no choice other than to resign from her parttime position after speaking publicly against powerful House Speaker Michacl Madigan. State Rep, Kelly Cassidy, a Democrat who represents portions of Chicago's North Side, was the lead voice ealling for an independent investigation after allegations of sexual harassment frst surfaced within Madigan’ poitial staff. Cassidy was one of few state lawmakers to speak publicly, questioning the steps the longtime speaker took after a firestorm ‘erupted when a former Madigan staffer, Alaina Hampton, alleged she had been sexually harassed by key Madigan operative Kevin Quinn, Days after she publicly called fora review of harassment policies and past responses to complaints, Cassidy said she was told by Sheriff Tom Dan's spokeswoman Cara Smith that Madigan’s chief of staf Tim Mapes had called "to confirm that | was still mployed," adding, "that call from Mapes felt like a warning, it was alittle chilling" ‘Cassidy said she had also reached out to meet with Madigan about a cannabis bill currently under consideration but has not received a response - a deviation from the norm, she said, because traditionally when House members request @ meeting with Madigan, “anyone who asks to speak to him gets into speak to him.” ‘But most recently, on Monday, Cassidy said her decision to speak out cost her her part-time job. Cassidy was a program manager for the sheriff's Justice Initiative for three years, working part-time on jailtelated issues. She said before necepting the job, she received approval from the speaker's attorney and has listed it on her ethics disclosures, estimating that she earned between $20,000 and $35,000 per year, depending on how much she worked, ‘This year in Springfield, Dart is advocating fora bill that would place inmates on the sex offender registy ifthey expose ‘themselves or masturbate infront of female staffers two or more times, a measure 9 protect staff after 22? detainees were charged with indecent exposuire in 2017. Cassidy did not support the bill, as she said she does not believe a registry of sex offenders isa deterrent to crime, 5/22/2018, 2:04 PM State Rep. Says She's Facing Retaliation for Speaking Out Against... httpy/wwwiprintthis.clickability.com/ptept?expir 20f2 Last week, Cassidy said state Rep. Bob Rita "summoned" her over to discuss Dan's bill and said, "I realy just can’t get over the fact that you're opposed to your boss” bill.” Rita, a south suburban Democrat and close Madigan aly, faced allegations of domestic battery more than a dozen years ago - claims that resurfaced in March during his contentious primary race. He easily won re-election ‘That conversation with Rita led Cassidy to speak to Smith once again, Cassidy said Smith told her that Rita had reached out 10 tell her, “when | worked for a politician, when I opposed him, I expect to be fired.” “My blood ran cold at that,” Cassidy said. "It was very, very clear at that point, the combination of the call in February and this action by Rep. Rita, that this job was their point of leverage to use against me.” Cassidy said she did not link Dart to the retaliation and chose to resign from her position ‘Rather than put him in the position of being dragged into this petty nonsense, | offered my resignation because I didn’t sce any other way," Cassidy said "This is retribution, there is zero doubt in my mind," she added. "Ths is about me having the gall to speak out." ‘The Sheriffs office proposed legislation this session designed to strengthen our response to detainees who expose themselves and engage in sexual misconduct towards staff," Smith said ina statemer Rep. Kelly Cassidy, who worked parttime for our ollie and who co-chairs the committee the bill was assigned to, opposed the bill and the legislative solution our office was seeking to protect the over 1000 female staff that work inthe Cook County jail," the statement continued, "Based on this philosophical difference, she submitted her resignation which we accepted.” When reached, Madigan’s spokesman said it was the “fist I have heard ofthis" and Rita did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Cassidy said she is speaking out about how she’s been treated to shine a "spotlight on it," adding its the “only way it's going to stop.” Get the latest from NBC Chicago anywhere, anytime Download the App Available for 10S and Andtoid + Follow NBC Chicago Find this article at ‘psdeww nosneage crags nar eam cassidy ie-adigarB3237651 hl 9/22/2018, 2:04 PM. Politics 05/22/2018, 08:5Sam ‘Retaliation’? — State rep says questioning Madigan on harassment cost her job State Rep. Kelly Cassidy and House Speaker Michael Madigan | Sun-Times file photos Subscribe for unlimited digital access. ‘Try one month for $1! ‘Tina Sfondeles A North Side Democrat says she was foreed to resign from a part-time job in the Cook County Sheriff's office as political payback for her criticism of Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan’ handling of sexual harassment allegations — a claim the sheriff's office vehemently denies. State Rep. Kelly Cassidy — who has worked part-time in the sheriff's office since January 2015 — said Madigan’s chief of staff Tim Mapes called the sheriff's office in February to check on her employment, within days of her vocal opposition of Madigan’s handling of harassment claims. “It was very chilling, ... It felt like a waming, very clearly,” Cassidy said of the employment check-in, And last week, Cassidy said state Rep. Bob Rita, a Madigan ally, questioned how she could ‘oppose a bill supported by her “boss,” Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart. “It was clear to me that this would be the first of an unlimited number of shots at me, and I respect the sheriff [Tom Dart] too much and the work they do. But I felt like the only way that I could bring an end to this is to come out,” Cassidy said. Cassidy said she resigned, but believes what happened is a clear form of “retaliation.” “My speaking out is about wanting to be safe from retaliation in this workplace, and I believe that the only way to do it is to take this public,” Cassidy said. “What kind of an example am I setting for my kids if | allow myself to be silenced in this way?” “You don't get to get to sit on the executive committee without being loyal,” Cassidy said of Rita’s allegiance to the speaker. Cassidy was among the first to call for an independent investigation into how Madigan’ s political operation had handled sexual harassment claims. “The slow and steady drip of accusations and dismissals has tured into an endless cycle of lather, rinse, repeat, highlighting the culture of harassment in the legislature and political campaigns,” Cassidy said in a statement in February. “I am calling for an independent investigation into this culture that appears to pervade the organizations led by Speaker Madigan.” On Monday, Cassidy said she endured retaliation by the speaker because of her vocal opposition, Jeading to her resignation in the Cook County Sheriff's office. Cassidy had worked parts the sheriff's office since January 2015, working with a small group on jail-related and other criminal justice issues, the sheriff's office said. Cara Smith, spokeswoman for the sheriff's office, said Cassidy resigned from her part-time post because she opposed a bill the sheriff's office had been strongly pushing — a measure that would place inmates on the sex offender registry upon release if they expose themselves or masturbate in front of female staffers more than two times ‘The measure cleared the Senate last month, but has stalled in the Illinois House. Cassidy co- chairs the Judiciary-Criminal committee, which the bill was assigned to. Ina statement, Smith said Cassidy opposed the bill, leading to her resignation, “Based on this philosophical difference, she submitted her resignation which we accepted,” ‘Smith said in the statement. Smith acknowledged she spoke with Rita to “discuss the bill and strategies to advance it “He raised a concem of Kelly not supporting the bill and shared that he had worked for other lected officials and that if he didn’t support their priorities, he wouldn't have a job,” Smith said. “Tt was just a statement of fact from him, his position. I didn’t interpret it as anything other than his surprise that Kelly did not support the sheriff's bill Smith confirmed that Mapes called, but said: “It seemed to me just a routine question,” asking to ‘onfitm whether Cassidy worked for us.” Asked about possible retaliation against Cassidy, Madigan spokesman Steve Brown said “it would be normal for a number of us to talk to the sheriff's office.” Rita did not immediately respond to a call for comment Monday afternoon, Rita has also figured in the criticism Madigan has faced on harassment issues. The powerful House speaker backed Rita when the Blue Island Democrat was first elected to the state House in 2002, after an ex-girlfriend had accused Rita of attacking her in her Evergreen Park home. Rita was acquitted the following year of domestic violence and criminal trespassing charges, But the 16-year-old ease resurfaced earlier this vear when Rita's Democratic primary challenger held a news conference with the ex-girliriend, Liz Hogan, who accused Madigan of deliberately ignoring the domestic violence complaint Madigan’s spokesman said the speaker had no memory of a meeting Hogan said her father had with Madigan in 2002. And Rita stood by the jury verdict, saying Hogan’s accusations were “false then and are false today

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