Nick Sauer, a former member of the Illinois House of Representative, representing the 51st District in southwest Lake County has been indicted on 12 felony counts of disseminating private sexual images. The charges are Class 4 felonies.
Sauer resigned late summer 2018 following allegations that he posted online explicit photos of an ex-girlfriend on Instagram.
In a statement issued Wednesday January 9, 2019, the Lake County State’s Attorney’s office reported that the charges against Nick Sauer stem from an investigation that discovered two victims. The State’s Attorney’s office release did not elaborate, withholding the identify of the two victims. No descriptive information about any of the victims was released and the released did not say if Sauer’s ex-girlfriend is one of the two victims.
On August 1, 2018, Nick Sauer announced he was resigning after his ex-girlfriend, Kate Kelly, accused the first-term Republican from Lake Barrington of creating a fake Instagram account and populating the account with nude photos of Kate Kelly with the purpose of luring men into “graphic” discussions, according to POLITICO.
Sauer wrote in a letter to the Clerk of the House of Representatives, “As a result of the allegations by Kate Kelly, a former girlfriend, I have decided to resign. It is important that the citizens of the 51st District be fully represented. My ability to fulfill my obligations as a State Representative and public servant will be affected by the distraction of addressing these allegations. After speaking with my family, I feel it best to step away from my public responsibilities.”
Kate Kelly filed a complaint with the Office of the Legislative Inspector General. In that document, Kelly alleged Illinois house representative Nick Sauer used the Instagram account “to catfish other men using my privately shared naked photos. Nick would use this account to direct message men with my photos to engage in graphic conversations of a sexual nature. The men believed they were communicating with me and Nick shared private details of my life.”
Kelly stated that she also filed a police report with the Chicago Police Department and that there is “an active investigation” into her claims.
“Catfish” is a term that refers to a person who pretends to be someone they’re not using Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or other social media to create false identities, especially to pursue deceptive online romances.
Before the allegations were made, Sauer was seeking re-election for a second term. Sauer was a member of the House Sexual Harassment and Discrimination Task Force.
The State’s Attorney’s office says Sauer is expected to surrender himself on the charges by Thursday morning, January 10, 2019.
Previously, Sauer was a member of the Board of Education, Barrington Community Unit School District 220, and Secretary of the Barrington Community Unit School District 220 Board of Education.
The 51st District includes Libertyville, Ivanhoe, Hawthorne Woods, part of Mundelein, part of Tower Lakes, part of Lake Barrington, North Barrington, Kildeer, Deer Park, and Long Grove just north of Lake Cook Road near Arlington Heights.
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Nick Sauer’s civic involvement, according to a Daily Herald profile included …
Chairman of Say YES! to Youth Success: Barrington,
Barrington Lions Club
Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce
Citizens for Conservation
We Do Care – Military Support Organization Barrington Area
4th of July Parade Committee
Volunteer with Royal Family Kids Camps for Foster Children
Cuba Township Republican Precinct Committeeman
Barrington Community Unit School District 220 Strategic Planning Group
SOURCES …
POLITICO | Illinois lawmaker accused of releasing nude photos of ex-girlfriend resigns
Daily Herald | Nick Sauer: Candidate Profile Lake County board District 17 (Republican) 2012