South Cook News

The Illinois Republican Party is drawing attention to allegations of domestic abuse against State Sen. Michael Hastings (D-Frankfort). 

In a press release, the GOP said Hastings seems to have a 'never-ending assembly line of reprehensible behavior."

“In the newly unsealed divorce files, Kathleen Hastings provided further details regarding that alleged incident two years ago," the GOP quoted WBEZ in its statement. "Her lawyer wrote that Michael Hastings 'slammed Kate’s head against the door leading to the garage multiple times and put her in a choke hold — all because she asked Mike where he was working that day.'"

"This is yet more behavior unbecoming of a State Senator," the GOP press release says. "Our legislators are supposed to exemplify the very best of Illinois. Senator Hastings has repeatedly demonstrated behavior this year that shows he is unfit to hold public office. He should do the honorable thing and resign to save South Suburban voters the trouble of throwing him out of office in disgrace. However, as Hastings’ past behavior has proven, doing the right thing seems to be something he is not capable of doing."

Republican Patrick Sheehan, who is running against Hastings, has called on his opponent to resign. Sheehan said he tried to run a positive campaign, but joins "Pritzker in demanding that Sen. Hastings resign from the state Senate ... Taxpayers should not have to continue paying for Sen. Hastings' unacceptable behavior, and they definitely should not have to continue paying his Senate salary while he deals with these serious allegations." 

He went on to say that he was a cop for 16 years and that people who abuse women should not be in government. 

Hastings has refused to resign saying the allegations are "baseless and without merit." However, he did step down as Senate Democratic Majority Whip in August.

The state recently paid a $100,000 settlement to Hastings' former chief of staff who accused him of discirmination. The state had also hired a private lawyer to represent Hastings, costing taxpayers $47,000.  

According to WBEZ, other women who have worked with Hastings have said that he has made them feel uncomfortable. In an interview, Jen Walling, the longtime executive director of the Illinois Environmental Council, said that Hastings has "had serious issues with anger management that aren’t appropriate for the workplace." She said she was yelled at by Hastings and was approached in a menacing manner during disagreements over legislation in Springfield in the past five years. 

Hastings is currently in a divorce battle with his wife. The couple has had multiple battles over the past couple of years that the police have gotten involved in. Hastings called several suburban police departments asking them to arrest his wife, after the New Lenox Police refused, Hastings told the officer that the decision "was not acceptable" and accused the officer of failing to fulfill his duty. 

State Rep. Martin McLaughlin (R-Lake Barrington) is one of several Republican legislators accusing Gov. J.B. Pritzker of being too lenient on Democratic lawmakers accused of wrongdoing. McLaughlin said on Facebook that calls for resignation are not enough; he supports robust ethics reform that Democrats have refused to pass. This comes amid the Hastings controversy and as bribery charges were filed against State Sen. Emil Jones III (D-Chicago).