Will County Gazette

Jen Monson, a candidate for Illinois State Senate District 43, expressed her concern over House Bill 5239. "Why does this not surprise me?" she asked. Monson, who is set to challenge incumbent Democrat Rachel Ventura in the general election, shared a link from the Illinois Family Institute that sheds light on the controversial bill.

"Why does this not surprise me," said jennifer Monson for IL Senate, according to Facebook.

In a Facebook post, Monson disseminated an article from the Illinois Family Institute titled "Accomplices to Exploitation." The piece, penned by Thomas Hampson, scrutinizes House Bill 5239 and states that "this law invites predators to exploit young girls with little risk of being caught." It cites a case "involving Chicago Public Schools Dean of Students Brian Crowder of Little Village Hall," alleging that Crowder "was able to secure two abortions in 2013 and 2014 for one of his victims by claiming he was the victim’s father." The article raises questions about potential scenarios where an abuser could indeed be the father of a victim and highlights the absence of police or Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) involvement.

Screenshot of Jen for IL State Senate District 43 May 4 Facebook post | JenMonson4ILSenate43 Facebook page

According to the Illinois General Assembly’s web page for the bill, House Bill 5239 aims to prevent "the State from providing any information or expending or using any time, money, facilities, property, equipment, personnel, or other resources in furtherance of any interstate investigation or proceeding seeking to impose civil or criminal liability upon a person or entity for: (1) the provision, receipt, or seeking of or inquiring or responding to an inquiry about reproductive health care products or services that are lawful in Illinois; or (2) assisting, advising, aiding, abetting, facilitating, soliciting, or conspiring with any person or entity providing, receiving, seeking..." The bill was sponsored by Rep. Kelly M. Cassidy in the House and Sen. Celina Villanueva in the Senate. It was assigned to the Senate executive committee on May 1, with an executive hearing scheduled for May 8 at 2 p.m.

Monson is the Republican nominee for Illinois State Senate District 43. She ran unopposed in the primary election. Her campaign website reveals that she is an educator and school board member who aims to "work to maintain citizen rights and their ability to exercise their God-given rights to exist and live freely without unconstitutional government overreach."