Chicago City Wire

Below is the full text of a document released by Kevin Quinn, accused sexual harasser and former aide to House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago).

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The Truth

Kevin Quinn

May 2018

Disclaimer

The information and observations contained within this report belong solely to Kevin Quinn and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Democratic Party of Illinois, Democratic Majority, Friends of Michael J. Madigan, the 13th Ward Democratic Organization, Speaker Michael J. Madigan, Alderman Marty Quinn, or any associated political organizations.

Acknowledgement of Responsibility & Perspective

It was never my intent to make Ms. Alaina Hampton feel uncomfortable. I take responsibility for sending the text messages she has publicly released between us and apologize for my attempts to get to know her outside of necessary interactions. In February 2017 when my supervisor approached me about my text messages with Alaina Hampton, I was reprimanded and all communications with her immediately stopped. Then during an investigation that was prompted from a letter Alaina sent to Speaker Madigan in November 2017 about the text communications, I was further reprimanded by Counsel Heather Wier Vaught in December 2017. On both occasions when I was reprimanded, I was informed that Alaina Hampton did not want me fired. I believe my February 2018 departure from working on Speaker Madigan’s political and state staff was in large a result of a pleading to a January 2018 misdemeanor disorderly conduct charge, which was directly related to my bitter divorce involving a custody battle of two children.

I served as a political and government aide for Speaker Michael J. Madigan for twenty years and understand how the media and politics work. Controversy and negative stories about elected officials sell papers and increase ratings as viewers get wrapped up in conflict. Negative media coverage can create policy windows. “These policy windows, the opportunities for action on given initiatives, present themselves and stay open for only short periods” (Kingdon, 2011, p. 166). Politicians are forced to react to media attention that has stirred up their constituencies who want to see something done.

It is no secret that the media has strong unconscious personal biases against Speaker Madigan.

Negative news sells and so in large the news coverage over the last fifteen years surrounding Speaker Madigan has attempted to paint him in a negative light. For the most part, Speaker Madigan has remained silent as he is a man who does not need the media’s recognition to commend him on his contributions to his community and the State of Illinois. With the national policy window open, I

believe the media has jumped to conclusions regarding Alaina Hampton’s accounts. Based on the amount of misinformation that has been reported, I feel it is important to see that the truth is made public.

Overview of Key Facts Here are some key points: • I was never Alaina Hampton’s supervisor and never had any control over her assignments. See Appendix A that contains several text communications between Alaina Hampton and I that clearly show that Alderman Marty Quinn was her supervisor • The 2018 campaign manager for the 5th district state representative (“RD5”) race was already determined prior to Alaina Hampton approaching Heather Wier Vaught. Alaina Hampton’s allegations that she was retaliated against because she did not obtain a job working on the RD5 race for the 2018 election cycle fails to recognize that the position of campaign manager was filled prior to her conversation. • Alaina Hampton has quit political campaign roles and government jobs on multiple occasions. Additionally, Alaina has exaggerated the roles she served in for the political committees of Speaker Madigan. See Appendix B for a timeline of relevant events to the Hampton Investigation. The timeline includes occasions when Aliana Hampton quit various positions as well as how her roles changed over time. • Alaina Hampton fails to recognize a fundamental principle in politics; she was not welcomed back into any of the Speaker’s political organizations after she took a salaried position on the Marie Newman for Congress campaign against 13 Ward Democratic Organization ally, Congressman Dan Lipinski. • In February 2016, Alaina Hampton told Alderman Marty Quinn that she did not want to communicate with me any further and immediately my communication with her stopped. There has been no contact with her since. • Alderman Quinn’s handling of Alaina Hampton’s complaint was swift and is in alignment with the degree of confidentially she sought, the seriousness of the offense and the outcome desired by the complaintant. • There was never any sort of cover up with respect to the investigation. Alaina Hampton had no knowledge of the misdemeanor disorderly conduct pleading that was associated with my nasty divorce and was part of the broader examination of my employment record conducted by Counsel Heather Wier Vaught.

Conflicting Statements & Actions

There have been several conflicting public statements made or actions taken by Alaina Hampton,

which I feel need to be highlighted.

Alaina Hampton’s Conflicting Statements & Actions

Alaina Hampton Statement at her Chicago Press Conference on February 13, 2018	THE TRUTH
• Alaina Hampton suggested she was, “experiencing crippling anxiety with every text and phone call” she received from Kevin Quinn.	• Yet her actions do not indicate as such. Alaina contacted Kevin several times between November 2016 and January 2017 to help her with various tasks including accessing vote builder, helping to coordinate design and printing of materials, and even to obtain career advice.  See Appendix C and Appendix D for examples
• Alaina Hampton stated, “I managed a successful state representative campaign for Juliana Stratton, now a candidate for Lt. Governor. I was praised for my good work and was asked to commit to the organization full time.”	• The notion that she was asked to commit to the 13th Ward Organization full time is false. The 13th Ward Organization is a volunteer organization and no one is full-time. After the March 2016 primary election campaign of Juliana Stratton, Alaina Hampton was unemployed and reached out to Alderman Marty Quinn for help.
•Alaina Hampton announced, “I do not want my job with the Democratic Party back.”	• Alaina Hampton never worked for the Democratic Party of Illinois.
•Alaina Hampton indicated, “I still don’t want to hurt anybody, but I told you what I needed for closure. I told you I wanted the Speaker to read the text messages. I told you that I wanted to be helpful in the 5th District State Representative race. And I told you that I wanted to see Alderman Quinn to tell him how much this has hurt me.”	• Alaina’s initial public statement about the Investigation with respect to the remedies she was seeking for “closure” never entailed having Kevin fired. It was only at her March 22, 2018 press conference where her attorney Shelly Kulwin suggested that Kevin should have been fired a year ago, even though the matter was dealt with in February 2017 how Alaina had requested.
• During the press February conference a reporter asked, “How has this affected your career personally? Has this offset your career path? How has that impacted you personally?” Alaina responded with the following statement, “Mentally and emotionally it has impacted me a great deal. Um, as far as my career. Of course I wanted to continue working with them. That’s all I’ve known my entire twenties. Fortunately, managing Juliana’s high profile race, gave me the leverage to be able to continue my career on my own.”	• At Alaina’s March 22, 2017 press conference she contradicted her February statement with respect to her career when she said, “I was forced to leave a job that I loved, derailing my career path. My reputation was sullied and I lost out on key job opportunities as word spread that I was persona non grada with these defendants.” It should also be acknowledged that Alaina was a contractual worker whose assignments ended in November 2016.
• Alaina responded to a reporter that, “after Juliana’s race, I was just going to continue working with the Democratic Party and the 13th Ward. But at the time the sexual harassment started, I would have preferred working to be distanced from the office, working on a different race.”	• It is important to point out that Alaina Hampton was never an employee of the Democratic Party of Illinois and that her office location was never at the 13th Ward office. Only on rare occasions she would stop by the 13th Ward office to pick things up or meet with Alderman Quinn. From July 2016 to November 8, 2016, Alaina Hampton worked out of the following campaign offices: Merry Marwig, Kate Cloonen, and Deb Conroy. Kevin Quinn never was based out of any of those campaign headquarters.
• Alaina Hampton stated, “During my time in employment with the Democratic Party in 2016 and 2017, my supervisor was harassing me for a span of 5 months.”	• Kevin Quinn was never Alaina’s supervisor. Her employment with the Democratic majority ended on November 8, 2016. She did receive a merit bonus for her door-knocking abilities in 2017 by Friends of Madigan associated with the work she did in 2016.

Campaign Related Job Responsibilities

I was never Ms. Hampton’s supervisor and never had any control over her assignments. My role was to simply facilitate communication between Alderman Marty Quinn, managers of targeted campaigns, and volunteers of the 13th Ward Democratic Organization (“Organization”). Additionally, I helped process clerical paperwork.

In my role at the 13th Ward Democratic Organization I was responsible for scheduling volunteers, but had no supervisory duties or authority to make decisions as to assignments. I had no authority to determine merit pay for campaign workers and volunteers after elections. My role was to facilitate communication between volunteers and campaigns. Each week I was asked by my supervisor to reach out to Organization volunteers and check availability of their schedules to campaign for targeted races. Once volunteers shared with me their availability, I would inform my supervisor who would have me communicate where each person’s assignment was for the week. I would also communicate to campaign managers on targeted races what volunteers would be working with them that week. On a weekly basis, targeted campaigns would share progress reports with me, which I would compile for management.

Appendix A contains several text communications between Alaina Hampton and Kevin Quinn that clearly show that Alderman Marty Quinn was her supervisor.

Over my twenty years of service collectively working as a political and government aide for Speaker Madigan I had a flawless personnel record up until when I was reprimanded in February 2017. The unprofessional text messages I sent to Alaina Hampton was an isolated case, which even she confirms in her February 13, 2018 press conference.

Alaina Hampton Responses to Reporter at her Chicago Press Conference on 2/13/2018 Reporter - “Alaina, to the best of your knowledge were any other women in the organization subject to sexual harassment?” Alaina – “I know of a few women who have come forward before, but I will not name any names.” Reporter – “Same kind of thing?” Alaina – “I won’t speak to their stories” Reporter – “Were they involving Kevin Quinn?” Alaina – “No.” Reporter – “Anybody else that you’re aware of that was sexually harassed by Kevin Quinn?” Alaina – “No.”

RD5

After more than 15 months of not being active with Speaker Madigan’s political committees and organizations, Alaina Hampton was hired as the campaign manager for Juliana Stratton’s primary race against sitting incumbent Ken Dunkin in December 2015. While she was light with campaign management experience, she had been away from the Speaker’s political organizations for some time, which helped to make it appear that Speaker Madigan was not directly involved in a race against a sitting Democrat incumbent. Alaina’s lack of experience showed during this high profile race. As a result, a highly seasoned and successful female campaign worker affiliated with the Speaker’s political organizations was called in to ensure a victory. In addition to the assistance of this seasoned female campaign worker, President Barack Obama assisted the victory by cutting both broadcast television and radio commercials to seal the win against Dunkin.

Fast forward to 2017, the campaign manager for RD5 was already determined prior to Alaina Hampton approaching Heather Wier Vaught. Beyond this fact, the campaign manager that was hired had impeccable credentials. The race needed someone who was reliable. Putting aside Alaina’s track record of quitting, trust was an issue with her as she had departed the 13th Ward Organization to work against a Madigan ally.

13th Ward Democratic Organization

The 13th Ward Democratic Organization is a volunteer group that helps elect Democratic candidates by working door-to-door on various campaigns. As members of the Organization there is not upward mobility opportunities afforded to volunteers to transition into campaign manager roles. After working as a campaign manager and then transitioning to a role in the Organization, Alaina saw herself as more than a door knocker and had higher aspirations to rise out and beyond the Organization.

In January 2017, Alaina Hampton informed another female member of the 13th Ward Democratic Organization, that she had been approached by Alderman Quinn to be a precinct captain and she said no because it was beneath her. In Alaina’s mind there was no room for the type of growth she was seeking professionally, which prompted her to seek out opportunities outside the Organization’s framework. Her exchange with a reporter at her Chicago press conference on February 13, 2018 below indicates she saw herself above the roles afforded to her within the Organization.

Alaina Hampton Responses to Reporter at her Chicago Press Conference on 2/13/2018 Reporter - “Can you explain the matter of the offering to be a precinct captain? Can you explain that role more to us who don’t know the workings of that organization? Did you think that was bribe? Alaina – “No.” Reporter - “Did you think that was a promotion? Did you think it was a legitimate offer on his part or was he trying to silence you at that point? Alaina – “No, he had mentioned it many months before I came forward. And being a precinct captain to them is a very high honor to them. Being a precinct captain for the Speaker is, you know you are an insider with the 13th Ward Office. You get to knock on doors in the precinct for the Speaker himself.”

Alaina wanted to be a member of the Organization on her own terms. She was never retaliated against in any way; she was treated the same as any other volunteer would have been treated that quit both Speaker’s government staff in 2014 and the 13th Ward Democratic Organization in 2016 by not being welcomed back for additional political assignments, especially after she went to go work against an ally of the organization on the Marie Newman campaign.

It is my belief that Alaina Hampton’s pursuit of recognition far beyond what the Organization could provide her was a motivating factor in her departure. As a member of the 13th Ward Organization she campaigned walking door-to-door and interacting with voters. Her communications with me about working on the high profile Governor’s race make it apparent that door knocking work was not enticing to Ms. Hampton. Appendix C contains several text communications between Alaina Hampton and Kevin Quinn that show Alaina was frustrated that the Organization could not provide her the opportunities she was seeking.

Investigation Details

• On January 4, 2017, I asked Alaina via text, “Are you and I ok?” She responded, “Yes, why?”

See Appendix E for this text exchange..

• In February 2017 when Ms. Hampton brought the text message communications between her and me to the attention of her supervisor, Alderman Marty Quinn, she asked for discretion to keep the matter confidential. When the Alderman asked her what she would like for him to do, she indicated that she just wanted the text messages to stop.

     o The same day he was notified about the text messages between Alaina and I, Alderman Quinn took action and reprimanded me. At that point, I ceased all communications with Alaina.

     o Alderman Quinn’s handling of Ms. Hampton’s complaint is in alignment with the degree of confidentially she sought, the seriousness of the offense and the outcome desired by the complaintant.

     o Alaina sought an informal resolution to address her concern, asking Alderman Quinn to have me stop communicating with her. During the February meeting she never requested a formal investigation.

     o In the conversation Alderman Quinn also revisited the topic of her working as a precinct captain for the 13th Ward Democratic Organization.

     o During the February meeting with Alderman Quinn, Alaina expressed that she was in discussions to work on Marie Newman’s Congressional campaign against sitting Congressman Dan Lipinski.

• During the November 2017 meeting with Counsel Heather Wier Vaught, Alaina never requested a formal investigation. While Counsel Vaught conducted one, among the informal remedies Alaina was seeking was that she wanted to work on the 5th District State Representative race. Before she even made this request, a campaign manager had already been selected for this race.

• In Ms. Alaina Hampton’s press conference on February 13, 2018 she was asked by a reporter, “What can we make of the statement that we now have from Marty Quinn that says you also asked for my discretion and indicated she did not want others to know about the situation and that Kevin not be further reprimanded.” She responded by casting doubt that she even remembered the discussion specifics of the meeting as she stated, “I don’t remember it being like that.” When pressed by the reporter, “Can you say what you do remember,” Alaina Hampton responded, “I remember him, I remember the last question he asked me as if we could talk about me being a precinct captain. And I told him that I needed a few months away from the office. That I wasn’t comfortable there. I was scared to be there. And um, he asked me how many months? I said two to three months. In that timeframe I was offered a job and I took it.”

Enclosed in Appendix B is a timeline of relevant events and information to the Investigation.

Divorce

I am currently going through a bitter and nasty divorce. My estranged wife Sarah McKay has made false and misleading public statements and allegations. She has used the window of opportunity afforded by the negative media attention to put forward blatantly false allegations about me as an attempt to better position herself in the custody evaluation process that is underway. Due to the sensitivity of the custody battle of the two children and ongoing divorce, at this time I do not wish to publicly refute the inaccurate information she has put in the public domain. The truth will come out.

Appendix A

Kevin Quinn was never Alaina Hampton’s supervisor and never had any control over her assignments. His role was to simply facilitate communication between Alderman Marty Quinn, managers of targeted campaigns, and volunteers of the 13th Ward Democratic Organization. Additionally, Kevin helped process clerical paperwork. Contained within Appendix A are exerts of text communications between Alaina Hampton and Kevin Quinn, in which Alaina clearly indicates on six (6) occasions that Alderman Marty Quinn is her supervisor.

Appendix B

This timeline of events contained in Appendix B details relevant events, facts and information to the

Investigation.

October 2012 - Alaina Hampton hired by Democratic Majority for Sue Scherer and Kathleen Willis Races General Election

November 6, 2012 – State of Illinois General Election, Alaina Hampton employment with Democratic

Majority ends

January 2013 - Alaina Hampton hired by Office of the Speaker for Silvana Tabares District Office Staff

Summer 2014 – Alaina Hampton quit her job with the Office of the Speaker

**Note - From Summer 2014 to November 2015 Alaina Hampton was not active with the Democratic Party of Illinois, Friends of Michael J. Madigan, the 13th Ward Organization or the Democratic Majority

December 2015 – Alaina Hampton hired by Friends of Juliana Stratton to work on the Juliana Stratton campaign for the 5th House District seat against Democratic incumbent Ken Dunkin

December 27, 2015 – While on Juliana Stratton’s campaign, Alaina Hampton was arrested in Chicago for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol

March 15, 2016 - With the help of sitting President Obama, Juliana Stratton is elected to the 5th House State Representative seat

July 2016 – Alaina Hampton joins the 13th Ward Democratic Organization, a volunteer group that supports Democratic candidates running for office.

August 2016 – Kevin Quinn and his wife Sarah McKay seperate, but they remain living in the same residence together with their two children.

August 2016 – Alaina Hampton signs contract with Democratic Majority to walk door-to-door for the summer/fall 2016 general election cycle months

July 2016 to November 8, 2016 – As a volunteer in the 13th Ward Democratic Organiztion Alaina Hampton walked door to door for the following candidates: Merry Marwig*, Kate Cloonen*, and Deb Conroy*. (Note: Alaina Hampton was not a campaign manager for any of these races*)

November 8, 2016 – General Election, Alaina Hampton employment with Democratic Majority ends

February 2017 – Alaina Hampton met with Alderman Marty Quinn regarding Kevin Quinn and during that meeting expressed that she was in discussions to work on Marie Newman’s Congressional campaign against sitting Congressman Dan Lipinski. The same day that the supervisor was notified about the text messages between Kevin and Alaina, Kevin was reprimanded by Alderman Quinn and Kevin ceased all communications with her.

April 2017 – Alaina Hampton begins salaried position on Marie Newman for Congress campaign against 13 Ward Democratic Organization ally, Congressman Dan Lipinski. This signaled she officially had quit the 13th Ward Democratic Organization.

April 28, 2017 – Sarah McKay files for divorce from Kevin Quinn. Kevin Quinn informs Sarah he will be fighting for full custody of their two children.

July 6, 2017 – After a heated verbal altercation between Kevin Quinn and Sarah McKay, Sarah manufactures a story for the police to get Kevin arrested, with the motive to put herself in a stronger position with getting custody of the children in the pending divorce.

October 2017 – Alaina Hampton quits the Marie Newman campaign

November 2017 – Alaina Hampton mailed a letter to Speaker Madigan’s Home

November 15, 2017 – Heather Wier Vaught and Alaina Hampton meeting

December 19, 2017 – Heather Wier Vaught meets with Kevin Quinn and Alderman Marty Quinn, where Kevin was reprimanded for his unprofessional behavior. He was told that his behavior was unacceptable, was directed to go to a sexual harassment training and Heather made clear that he could not socialize with workers. Heather told Kevin that any violation of the directives would lead to his dismissal and that she would be briefing the Speaker on the investigation.

January 2018 – Alaina Hampton quits/leaves the Curtis J. Tarver for the Illinois House of Representatives 25th District campaign

January 11, 2018 – Kevin Quinn pleads guilty to disorderly conduct that stemmed from a verbal dispute on July 6, 2017 with his estranged wife, Sarah McKay, associated with his divorce proceedings and custody battle for his two children.

February 9, 2018 – Kevin Quinn meets with Speaker Michael Madigan and Alderman Marty Quinn to discuss the findings of Heather Wier Vaught’s investigation and Kevin’s recent disorderly conduct plea. Based on the culmination of events it was determined that it was in the best interest of all parties for Kevin Quinn to leave his at-will positions with the Speaker’s political organizations and his government position.

February 12, 2018 – Speaker Madigan’s Office puts out a public statement about Kevin’s departure from 13th Ward Democratic Organization

February 13, 2018 – Alaina Hampton holds a press conference in Chicago, Illinois putting forward allegations of harassment and retaliation

March 22, 2018 – Alaina Hampton holds a press conference in Chicago, Illinois explaining she is filing a federal lawsuit against campaign committees associated with Speaker Madigan.

Appendix C

Appendix C contains several text communications between Alaina Hampton and Kevin Quinn that show Alaina was frustrated that the Organization could not provide her the opportunities she was seeking.

Appendix D

Included are examples of Alaina Hampton reaching out to Kevin Quinn on several occasions between September 2016 and January 2017 to help her with various tasks including accessing VoteBuilder, helping to facilitate design and printing of materials for her employer, and coordinating to drop off tables at the Ward office.

Appendix E

This is a January 4, 2017 text communcation between Kevin and Alaina.

Sources

Hampton, A. (February 13, 2018). LIVE: Alaina Hampton, a campaign staffer who filed a sexual harassment complaint against a key staffer for Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan, speaks about her experience, and accuses Madigan's office of a cover-up. CBS Chicago. Retrieved from: https://www.facebook.com/cbschicago/videos/10156330285823338/

Hampton, A. (March 22, 2018). 3-22-2018 Ex-Madigan Aide Alaina Hampton Press Conference (Federal Suit Against Democratic Party). BlueRoomStream. Retrieved from: https://livestream.com/blueroomstream/events/8122262

Kingdon, J. (2011). Agendas, alternatives, and public policies (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Pearson.