Mayor Brandon Johnson’s ex-communications director, former campaign spokesman and longtime confidant Ronnie Reese was accused of sexual harassment and creating a hostile work environment before abruptly being forced out of City Hall last month — allegations that Reese categorically denies.
Three complaints were filed against Reese over the past year, according to city personnel records, including one from a female staffer in the mayor’s press office who claimed Reese made her "severely uncomfortable" with unwanted hugs during a farewell party for another employee.
"I strongly and unequivocally deny any allegations of wrongdoing," Reese said in a text message to the Sun-Times. "Throughout my career, I have carried myself with the utmost professionalism and respect for all of my peers, something to which many of my former colleagues at the City of Chicago and previous employers can attest.
"There are many, many others who know my character, and who know the truth. I stand confident in that truth as I continue to prioritize my wife, my children and the health of my family in the next chapter of my career,” Reese said.
The allegations, first reported by the Chicago Tribune, also included "xenophobic, homophobic, and anti-latine behavior.
"Several of the team members indicated that Mr. Reese ... blatantly indicated that he was 'untouchable' and couldn't be fired,” according to documents obtained by the Sun-Times through a Freedom of Information Act request.
"Team members indicated that Mr. Reese refused to share work-related information that impacted their jobs, had unrealistic expectations, and often created or contributed to conflict within the team," one of the complaints stated.
In a July 30 email, an equal employment opportunity officer for the city’s human resources department advised Johnson’s chief of staff, Cristina Pacione-Zayas, to hold a "coaching meeting" over the complaints.
"Reese should be informed that he needs to treat all staff equally and not engage in misogynistic behavior, avoid physical contact (including hugs) with staff, refrain from telling employees how to style themselves and avoid referring to protected categories such as sexual orientation, race, national origin, and ancestry unless required as part of an official assignment," the officer wrote.
"Reese should also be informed that as a higher-level supervisor with public-facing duties, he is also held to higher standards and may be subjected to a higher level of discipline, including discharge."
Pacione-Zayas held a separate meeting with press office staffers the next day about Reese, who was not present, records show. One of the complainants later said it "did not result in any additional clarity or changes."
Reese was placed on leave in October and fired Nov. 5 "for failure to meet professional standards," records show.
For a year and half, Reese led a City Hall press operation for Johnson that has seen a revolving door of media relations staffers.
Reese and Johnson were longtime friends dating back to their time at the Chicago Teachers Union, where Johnson worked as an organizer and Reese as a deputy press secretary under former CTU presidents Karen Lewis, Jesse Sharkey and Stacy Davis Gates. Reese then served as Johnson's media point person during his winning mayoral campaign and joined him on the fifth floor of City Hall.
WBEZ previously reported that some former press office staffers complained of mistreatment under Reese, including being yelled at by senior leadership, having job responsibilities diminish and experiencing conflict for previously working under former Mayor Lori Lightfoot.
Reese was also named in a former staffer’s still-pending complaint with the Illinois Department of Human Rights alleging harassment and retaliation.
Although Reese was allowed to keep his job for months before being forced out, Johnson, speaking Monday at an unrelated news conference, maintained he has zero tolerance for hatred or discrimination of any kind.
“I can speak for Brandon Johnson. … I do not tolerate antisemitic, mysoginistic, sexist, racist xenophobic, anti-Blackness, anti-immigrant behavior. I don’t. That’s not how I was raised,” the mayor said.
Johnson said the level of detail that was included in his longtime friend’s personnel file “came out through” his administration’s response to a Freedom of Information request about the complaints made against Reese.
“It’s not the case that all of the information was available to anyone in my administration,” the mayor said.
Johnson refused to comment on the alternatives to firing reportedly offered by Pacione-Zayas. Those alternatives included mediation and restorative justice.
