Investigation Reopened in Allegations Against Education Board Candidate Hilario Dominguez

Background and Investigation

The Chicago Public Schools (CPS) inspector general has reopened the probe into Hilario Dominguez, a candidate for Chicago Board of Education president. The Tribune learned about the reopening after an earlier inquiry into his conduct had been closed. CPS Inspector General Philip Wagenknecht confirmed the decision without commenting on the specifics of the allegations.

We issued a ‘not substantiated’ report earlier this year,” he said in a phone call. “We’ve now received additional information and are following up on this.

Dominguez’s attorney, Larry Suffredin, previously shared a June email from the inspector general’s office, indicating that a case involving Dominguez was closed due to insufficient evidence relating to alleged inappropriate interactions with a CPS student in 2017.

Details of the Allegations

The case was reopened without specifying the cause. The Tribune interviewed the woman involved, who is 26 now and was a minor during the mentioned incident. The Tribune refrained from naming her. Past allegations concerning Dominguez’s tenure at The Resurrection Project have become prominent amid his campaign.

Dominguez has acknowledged the seriousness of such allegations, emphasizing his cooperation with investigations and stating, “Accountability means something in both directions.”

An internal statement from 2018 highlighted inappropriate behavior towards a teen in the nonprofit’s summer program, written by housing counselor Paloma Rodriguez. The report followed both the teen and Dominguez’s departure from the organization. It mentioned inappropriate language, behavior, and occasions where Dominguez offered rides home and made personal inquiries about her dating life.

Interaction Accounts and Statements

The woman described how Dominguez, then 24, acted during a work-related drive in 2017, later pulling her off the ground in an uncomfortable and uncontrolled manner in the nonprofit’s lobby. She shared a text from Dominguez a year later, acknowledging the incident’s fallout and offering an apology.

Rodriguez’s report and interviews with former Resurrection Project staff detailed discussions regarding Dominguez’s actions. Supervisor Madeline Cruz confirmed awareness of the allegations among other staff.

Suffredin responded, denying accuracy in the claims and criticized their use against Dominguez’s character, pointing to his professional accomplishments.

Dominguez blamed political motives, citing a relative of the woman who previously ran against him, though the relative denied involvement.

Recent Developments and Responses

The inspector general’s renewed investigation followed the woman’s proactive contact with his office after finding the earlier conclusion surprising. Resurrection Project CEO Raul Raymundo did not respond to inquiries regarding the nonprofit’s handling of the allegations.

Spokesperson Sylvia Ortiz-Cooper confirmed Dominguez’s employment duration without commenting further.

The woman said she chose to speak up, questioning Dominguez’s accountability due to his pursuit of public office within the education system. She sought control over her narrative as others continued to share her story.

In the situation with Hilario picking me up, it was loss of control, no autonomy. I just want to have a locus of control of myself now, and that’s all I can do.