* From today’s House hearing on sexual harassment…



Breaking: Witness testifying in sexual harassment hearing just said Sen. Ira Silverstein was her harrasser. pic.twitter.com/99RC5R7I03 — BlueRoomStream (@BlueRoomStream) October 31, 2017 Denise Rotheimer, who authored several bills, says Sen. Silverstein used "power" and "mind games," made comments about her appearance. — Tina Sfondeles (@TinaSfon) October 31, 2017 Silverstein had no comment about the allegations when reached on Monday. — Tina Sfondeles (@TinaSfon) October 31, 2017



* Denise Rotheimer told the House committee considering sexual harassment legislation today that she filed a harassment complaint against Sen. Ira Silverstein (D-Chicago) a year ago. Rotheimer had already passed “Jasmine’s Law” which increased penalties for violent sexual offenders and was working to pass yet another bill at the time.

Rotheimer said she lost 20 pounds, her hair fell out and had to admit herself to a hospital because of Silverstein’s behavior.

“He had so much power over me,” Rothmeimer said.

She claimed he told her things such as “I like having meetings with you because you’re pretty to look at,” called her “intoxicating,” etc.

“He would Facebook me at midnight, call me at midnight,” she said.

In April of last year, she claimed, Silverstein killed her bill because “He thought I had a boyfriend.” She claimed he revived the bill when he found out she didn’t have a boyfriend.

Rotheimer said she filed a complaint with the inspector general’s office, but was told to talk to Senate President John Cullerton’s office. From the Senate President’s office…

The Office of the Illinois Senate President was made aware of these accusations in late November 2016. Senior staff met with Senator Silverstein to let him know such allegations are taken seriously and that this would be reported to the Legislative Inspector General’s Office, which it was.

…Adding… As rightly noted in comments, there is currently no Legislative Inspector General and hasn’t been for years. Under questioning today, Speaker Madigan pledged to get that slot filled soon. We’ll see.

Rotheimer said she approached her state Senator, Melinda Bush, to ask her for help, but nothing happened.

“I want him to answer for it and to know that it is wrong,” Rotheimer said of Silverstein. “It is unconscionable.”

* Rothheimer is running as a Republican in the 62nd House District, which is currently held by Democratic Rep. Sam Yingling. She wrote this on Facebook yesterday…

I have been warned that by testifying tomorrow it could cause a political lash back on my campaign for office, but I replied, “politics neither serve as a motivation or deterrent for the choices I make when I know it’s the right thing to do.”

*** UPDATE 1 *** Response…



Ira Silverstein tells me of sexual harassment complaint at hearing: "I said I'm going to apologize if I made her uncomfortable." #twill 1/ — natasha korecki (@natashakorecki) October 31, 2017 2/ Asked if the allegations were true, Ira Silverstein: "What she's saying is false." #twill — natasha korecki (@natashakorecki) October 31, 2017 3/ probed on the denial, Ira Silverstein: "I'm not going to try this in the press." will await ethics commission report. — natasha korecki (@natashakorecki) October 31, 2017 "I apologize if I made her uncomfortable, but I will wait until the commission's results," Silverstein said. https://t.co/sUmdHHmXqA — Monique Garcia (@moniquegarcia) October 31, 2017



*** UPDATE 2 *** From Speaker Madigan’s press conference…

When asked about the allegations against Silverstein, Madigan said it was the first time he heard them. “It does not sound good,” the speaker said. “I think it’s a matter that ought to be pursued, it ought to be investigated.”