Nick Sauer
{{Short description|American politician}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name=Nick Sauer
|image =
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|birth_date ={{Birth date and age|1982|10|11}}
|birth_place = Peoria, Illinois
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| state_house=Illinois
| state=Illinois
| district=51st
| term_start = {{start date|2017|01|11}}
| term_end = {{end date|2018|08|1}}
| preceded= Ed Sullivan, Jr.
| succeeded= Helene Walsh
|party = Republican
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|residence = Lake Barrington, Illinois
|alma_mater = Northwestern University {{small|(M.A.)}}
University of Denver {{small|(B.A.)}}
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Nick Sauer (born October 11, 1982) is a Republican politician and former member of the Illinois House of Representatives, representing the 51st district which includes Deer Park, Forest Lake, Green Oaks, Hawthorn Woods, Kildeer, Lake Barrington, Lake Zurich, Libertyville, Long Grove, Mundelein and North Barrington. Before his election to the House, he was a director of the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority and a member of the Lake County Board.{{cite web|url=http://www.ilga.gov/house/Rep.asp?GA=100&MemberID=2486
|title= Representative Nick Sauer (R) 51st District |publisher=Illinois General Assembly|date=January 11, 2017|accessdate=January 20, 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://ilhousedems.com/redistricting/2011-maps/Legislative_Districts_Public_Act/LD26.pdf|author=|title=PA 97-0006 Legislative District 26|date=2011-05-18|accessdate=2017-01-20}}
Professional and political career
Sauer began his professional career in the US Department of Commerce under President George W Bush. In 2009, he was victorious in his first campaign for elected office, to the Barrington, Illinois Community School District 220 Board of Education. He successfully ran for the Lake County, Illinois Board in 2012 and was elected as a State Representative in 2016. He is a partner in his family's business, called "Sauer Kitchen Solutions."{{cite web|url=http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20120131/submitted/301319714/|title=Nick Sauer: Candidate Profile|date=2012-02-10|accessdate=2017-05-07}}
Sexual harassment allegations
{{See also|MeToo movement}}
On August 1, 2018, it was reported by Politico that an ex-girlfriend accused him of misappropriating nude photos she had sent to him privately, using them to establish an Instagram account, where he would pretend to be a woman seeking online relationships with men. This allegedly involved graphic sexual discussions. "He came to my house & confessed to catfishing men with my photos for 2 years to at least 8 men," she said, according to Politico. "He was unable to provide the names and begged that I let it go."{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/08/01/illinois-lawmaker-nude-photos-754563/|title=Illinois lawmaker accused of releasing nude photos of ex-girlfriend|website=Politico |date=2018-08-01|accessdate=2018-08-01}}{{cite web|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-illinois-house-representative-sauer-allegations-20180801-story.html/|title=Illinois House GOP lawmaker expected to resign after ex-girlfriend's accusations|website=Chicago Tribune |date=2018-08-01|accessdate=2018-08-01}} He resigned from the Illinois General Assembly the same day.{{cite news|last=Miller|first=Rich|title=Sauer Resigns|date=August 1, 2018|accessdate=August 1, 2018|newspaper=Capitol Fax|url=https://capitolfax.com/2018/08/01/sauer-resigns/}} Lake County Republican Party Chairman Mark Shaw appointed Helene Walsh, wife of former Congressman Joe Walsh, to the vacancy.{{cite news|last=Riopell|first=Mike|title=Helene Miller Walsh, wife of former U.S. Rep. Joe Walsh, replaces state rep accused of sharing ex's nude pics|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=August 18, 2018|access-date=August 19, 2018|language=en-US|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-nick-sauer-republicans-walsh-20180818-story.html}}
On January 9, 2019, it was announced that Sauer was indicted on twelve counts of the offense of non-consensual Dissemination of Private Sexual Images involving two separate victims. As charged, each count is a Class 4 felony.{{cite news|last=Miller|first=Rich|title=Former GOP Rep. Nick Sauer indicted on 12 felony counts involving 2 alleged victims|date=January 9, 2019|newspaper=Capitol Fax|accessdate=January 9, 2019|url=https://capitolfax.com/2019/01/09/former-gop-rep-nick-sauer-indicted-on-12-felony-counts-involving-2-alleged-victims/}}
In November 2023, Sauer entered into a plea agreement in which he pled guilty to one charge of attempted non-consensual dissemination of a private sexual image (a Class A misdemeanor) while the rest of the charges were dismissed. He was sentenced to 90 days in jail, two years probation and 120 hours of public service. https://www.lakemchenryscanner.com/2023/11/28/former-state-rep-nick-sauer-from-lake-barrington-sentenced-to-90-days-in-jail-for-posting-private-sexual-photos-online/
References
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Category:Politicians from Peoria, Illinois
Category:Northwestern University alumni
Category:University of Denver alumni
Category:County board members in Illinois
Category:People from Lake County, Illinois
Category:Illinois politicians convicted of crimes
Category:21st-century members of the Illinois General Assembly
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