South Cook News

State Senator Michael Hastings (D-Matteson) is alleged to have called his ex-wife Kathleen a "fat cunt" and a "stupid bitch" while giving her "the middle finger" at their child's soccer game in Frankfort.

That's according to a petition for a temporary restraining order filed with the Will County Court by attorney Paul A. Frigo of Tinley Park.

A copy of the petition, filed on June 24. 2024, was obtained by South Cook News.

Kathleen Hastings said that her husband, the four-term Democrat, running for re-election on Nov. 5, threatened her after their son's soccer game in February.

She sad the 44 year-old Hastings, a former college offensive lineman who police reports say stands 6'2 and weights 255 pounds, followed her back to her car to yell at her.

"You're going to get what's coming to you," State Sen. Hastings is alleged to have said.

Police reports say the 43 year-old Kathleen Hastings is 5'5 and 125 pounds.

A month later, at March school dance recital in Frankfort for their young daughter, Kathleen said her ex-husband "was staring.. and was mouthing fuck you and cunt to her during (the performance)." 

She also accused of State Sen. Hastings filing a false police report in New Lenox later that month, that "tried to have (her) arrested for taking the children on Spring Break," as well as telling her to "shut the fuck up" during their son's First Communion, then pushing past her "to get to the Communion line first."

The petition's allegations were all denied by State Sen. Hastings in his own filing, filed eight hours later.

Will County Judge Domenica A. Osterberger determined her allegations didn't rise to the level to justify an order of protection.

Hastings, whose district includes parts of Matteson, Olympia Fields, Hazel Crest, Country Club Hills, Tinley Park, Orland Hills, Markham and Richton Park in South Cook County as well as New Lenox, Frankfort, Frankfort Square, Homer Glen and Mokena in Will County, is being challenged by Republican Samantha Gasca of New Lenox.

"Violent Physical Contact"

In his filing, State Sen. Hastings accused Kathleen Hastings of refusing to let him give his daughter flowers after the dance recital, and claimed she "struck (him) with her elbow and made physical contract with him with her forearm."

State Sen. Hastings accuses his 125 pound ex-wife of making "violent physical contact" with him. He denied calling her fat.

In June, State Sen. Hastings walked into the Will County Sheriff's office to file a formal complaint against Kathleen for "domestic battery" using her hands or feet.

He said the battery against him occured on Monday June 5 at 7:15 p.m. at Lincoln-Way East H.S in Frankfort.

State Sen. Hastings cited his two children, ages eight and four, as witnesses.

Will County prosecutors reviewed Michael Hastings' complaint, as well as video from Lincoln-Way East of the incident, police reports show.

On Aug. 8, Will County Assistant State's Attorney Sarah West told the sheriff that she was closing the case and declining to prosecute, after reviewing the evidence. 

Reports show that Will County Deputy Sheriff Anna Glowinke called State Sen. Hastings to deliver the news. 

"The victim... became very upset," she wrote.

Court records released in 2022 included allegations State Sen. Hastings physically assaulted his ex-wife at their Frankfort home.

Also in 2022, Illinois taxpayers spent $150,000 in legal expenses to settle a civil discrimination complaint filed against State Sen. Hastings by his former top aide, Cassandra Matz. And a top lobbyist, Jen Walling of the Illinois Environmental Council, accused Hastings of approaching her in a "menacing way" and yelling at her during disagreements in Springfield.

"He clearly, to me, in observing him, has had serious issues with anger management that aren’t appropriate for the workplace where we are making laws for the state of Illinois,” Walling told the Chicago Sun-Times.

Illinois Democrat Gov. J.B. Pritzker then called upon Hastings to resign from office over the accusations he abused women.

In Oct. 2022, the Edgar County Watchdogs reported on a petition filed by Kathleen Hastings' lawyer that accused State Sen. Hastings of spending money on vacations with his "paramour," rather than paying attorney's fees.

"(State Sen. Hastings) has filed pleadings to sell the only car that Kate drives and transports the children in and liquidate the children’s college accounts to pay for the cost of this litigation while at the same time he continues to vacation and spend money on his paramour," the filing was reported to say.

Hastings is suing the Frankfort Police Department for releasing public police reports created in response to his complaints against his ex-wife.

Hastings is a native of Orland Hills who attended Andrew H.S. He served on the Consolidated School District 230 School Board before running for Illinois State Senate in 2012, replacing the retiring Democrat Maggie Crotty.

His father, Kyle Hastings, has been mayor of Orland Hills since 1993.