Ken Idstein would like to see Rep. Sam Yingling (D-Grayslake) join forces with him on the Mike Madigan front.
“Yingling should join me in demanding (House Speaker Mike) Madigan resign and he should pledge not to take any money from him,” Idstein, slated to face off against Yingling in the 62nd District in November’s general election, recently posted on Facebook. “Standing up is the right thing to do and it is shameful and embarrassing Yingling refuses to.”
Idstein was prompted to speak out after Rep. Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago) said she felt allies of the powerful House speaker sought to retaliate against her after she raised questions about his handling of sexual harassment allegations made against an aide.
The Chicago Tribune reported Cassidy claimed she felt pressured to resign from her part-time job in Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart’s office after she publicly questioned Madigan’s handling of sexual harassment claims in his political and government organizations.
Although Madigan recently denied ever taking any such actions against Cassidy in a letter he wrote to her and is now calling for a watchdog group to oversee an ongoing investigation, Idstein said the damage has already been done.
“To any common sense observer, this is unacceptable,” he wrote on Facebook.
“What does Sam Yingling have to say about the latest Madigan sexual harassment scandal?" he posted. "Nothing. Just like after the last one. As usual, Yingling is silently siding with Madigan and the political insiders who are determined to cover up accusations of sexual harassment.”
The 62nd District includes parts of Grayslake, the Round Lake communities, Hainesville, Wauconda and Gurnee.
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