By JOhn Dempsey, WLS-AM News

(CHICAGO) Illinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin is stopping short of calling for embattled Democratic Senator Ira Silverstein to resign, after a victim’s rights advocate accused the Senator of sexually harassing her.

Durkin told “The Big John and Ramblin’ Ray Show” on WLS that even though the allegations against Silverstein are serious, the Senator deserves due process.  Durkin also believes that newly appointed Legislative Inspector General Julie Porter will conduct a thorough investigation.

“I can’t speak for Senator Silverstein but I do believe that he has at least some process that has to be played out by the Inspector General.  A complaint has been filed, she will investigate the matter.   That will be taken up in an expeditious manner.   I’m not going to speak for Senator Silverstein though.  He’s in a situation where it is very troubling but I still believe that you are awarded process.”

The Illinois House voted this week to give expanded authority to Porter, who is the Legislature’s first inspector general in the past two years.   In that time more than two dozen ethics complaints were filed, including a complaint filed by victim’s rights advocate Denise Rotheimer, who says Silverstein harassed her last year.

Durkin also told WLS that the legislature could eventually take some kind of action against Silverstein, depending on Porter’s findings.

“There could be some type of action taken if there is a complaint that is determined to be well-founded or they believe that an act of misconduct did occur.”

This week in Springfield the Illinois Department of Human Rights began sexual harassment prevention training for lawmakers.

@ 2017 WLS-AM News