The Chicago Public Schools (CPS) inspector general has reopened an investigation into Hilario Dominguez, a candidate for Chicago Board of Education president, months after initially closing the inquiry. CPS Inspector General Philip Wagenknecht confirmed the renewed review on Friday but declined to provide details about the allegations prompting the action.
Earlier this year, the inspector general’s office concluded an investigation into Dominguez, finding insufficient evidence to substantiate claims of inappropriate behavior toward a CPS student in 2017 while Dominguez was employed by The Resurrection Project, a Chicago nonprofit. This closure was communicated in a June email obtained by Dominguez’s attorney, Larry Suffredin, who represented the former Cook County Commissioner. However, the office has since received new information, leading to a reopening of the case.
The allegations center on interactions between Dominguez and a then-17-year-old female participant in a youth summer program hosted by The Resurrection Project. According to a 2018 internal statement by a former employee, Paloma Rodriguez, the young woman reported that Dominguez exhibited inappropriate language and behavior that made her uncomfortable. The report indicated that Dominguez was alone with the teenager on multiple occasions, offered her rides home, and asked personal questions about her dating life.
In a detailed interview, the woman described two incidents from 2017 when Dominguez, then 24 and serving as a coordinator, drove her to a work event and asked about her romantic interests. She recounted a more distressing episode where Dominguez physically restrained her by wrapping his arms around her waist and swinging her body, leaving her feet off the ground and pressed against him. She described the experience as a loss of control and autonomy.
The woman also provided a text message she said was sent by Dominguez a year later, in which he acknowledged the situation and expressed a desire to discuss it further. Dominguez has not responded to requests for comment regarding the message.
Multiple former staff members of The Resurrection Project confirmed that the allegations were discussed within the organization during the summer of 2017, describing a strong consensus that such behavior was inappropriate.
Dominguez, who has served as deputy political director for the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU), has denied the allegations and dismissed them as politically motivated. His attorney characterized the claims as “proven false” and accused critics of attempting to damage Dominguez’s reputation during his campaign. Dominguez himself suggested one of the woman’s relatives, a past electoral opponent, may have fueled the spreading of rumors, though that relative denied involvement.
Following the announcement of the reopened investigation, the CTU’s legal team committed to representing Dominguez through the process, reaffirming the union’s support for his candidacy. A union message to members emphasized the importance of taking allegations and due process seriously.
Attempts to reach The Resurrection Project’s leadership for comment were unsuccessful. A spokesperson confirmed only the dates of Dominguez’s employment from June 2017 to April 2018 and declined to discuss the incident.
The woman at the center of the allegations said she decided to speak publicly because of concerns over Dominguez’s accountability while seeking a leadership role in the public education system. She also expressed frustration over others sharing her story without her input, emphasizing her desire to reclaim control over her own narrative.