A political consultant whose allegations of sexual harassment against a top aide to state House Speaker Mike Madigan highlighted the treatment of women in Illinois politics has reached a settlement with four of the speaker’s political committees.
Alaina Hampton settled her 2018 federal lawsuit for $275,000 with the Democratic Party of Illinois, the Democratic Majority, the 13th Ward Democratic Organization, and Friends of Michael J. Madigan.
“Going public with my story and pursuing a cause of action against some of the most powerful people in this State, and people I cared about, has not been easy,” Hampton said in a statement. “The past three years have taken a toll on me, so I am relieved to move forward with my life and put these events behind me.”
Hampton said there have been “positive changes” in state politics since she came forward with allegations that another longtime Madigan aide, Kevin Quinn, harassed her with a stream of unwanted texts and phone calls in pursuit of a romantic and sexual relationship.
Madigan, who is also chairman of the state Democratic Party, initially hailed Hampton as “a courageous woman,” but was quickly forced to take action. That included firing Quinn, the brother of Ald. Marty Quinn (13th) and forming a task force of Democratic women to address harassment and the political culture in Illinois.
Hampton’s lawsuit also had sought damages for alleged retaliation, claiming her career suffered after she came forward with the allegations.
Madigan fired Quinn a day before Hampton went public in February 2018, a move Hampton quickly criticized as a way to cover up that no action had been taken for nearly a year.
Contributing: Rachel Hinton, Tina Sfondeles
