An anti-abuse advocate who accused Sen. Ira Silverstein (D-Chicago) of sexual harassment is asking the lawmaker's constituents to do what he and his colleagues have refused to do – remove him from the Senate.
"Please consider the other candidates who are running for office," Mothers on a Mission to Stop Violence founder Denise Rotheimer said in a letter to Silverstein's constituents in the 8th House District, which she shared with the Lake County Gazette. "Silverstein did abuse his position of power and he needs to be removed from that position. The process is designed to protect him and did not afford me with any rights – it is not a process of justice. Justice now can only be served with your vote on March 20, 2018. I pray that you will choose justice and vote for one of the other candidates and send a message to Silverstein that God, family and honor are the values that represent the interests of your beliefs."
Silverstein has represented the 8th District, which includes parts of Chicago's North Side, Skokie, Morton Gove and Park Ridge, since 1999.
Illinois State Sen. Ira Silverstein (D-Chicago)
Rotheimer alleges that Silverstein sexually harassed her while she was trying to lobby him for legislation to assist crime victims in paying for legal costs. Late last month Rotheimer, in an open letter to Rep. Sara Wojcicki Jimenez (R-Leland Grove), questioned the alleged lack of public scrutiny and due process in the recent report issued by the state's legislative inspector general who was hurriedly appointed to that long-vacant office last fall.
Rather than find Silverstein had sexually harassed Rotheimer, the LIG’s report concluded he "did behave in a manner unbecoming of a legislator."
Rotheimber initially filed her complaint against Silverstein in 2016, when for years there had been no legislative inspector general to investigate, and she renewed those allegations during testimony in October. Silverstein subsequently lost his Senate majority caucus whip position but held onto his Senate seat, despite considerable pressure to resign.
Silverstein faces four candidates in the Democratic primary: Caroline McAteer-Fournier, Zehra Quadri, Ram Villivalam and David Zulkey.
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