Harry Benton was hardly a household name during an undistinguished tenure in the Illinois House of Representatives. Now, if his name is recalled at all, he’ll likely be another figure in the long-running saga of ethical failures or corruption in state government.

Just what did Benton do wrong?

Well, we may never find out. And that’s a shortcoming in implementation of the state’s ethics law that adds insult — and unnecessary mystery — to the injury evidently inflicted by the now-former Democratic House member from Plainfield while he was still in office.

Benton faced some sort of ethics charges. The legislative inspector general investigated and delivered a confidential report to Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch. Welch on July 1 declared the findings “outrageous, unethical, and unbecoming of a member of the Illinois House” and urged him to resign or face expulsion. 

Benton did just that. But his resignation should not mark the end of matters.

Multiple news sources, including the Tribune, have reported the complaint involved a sexual harassment claim. Whether that’s correct and whether the IG found other misdeeds are not yet known. Welch hasn’t confirmed any details, nor has any other authority in state government.

And if we never do find out, that’s evidently because in the state legislature, an accused lawmaker can make ethics charges disappear........

© Chicago Tribune