East Central Reporter

Freshmen state Rep. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) has joined the growing ranks of lawmakers demanding a full investigation into longtime House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) after a 2012 email recently surfaced connecting a close Madigan associate to a purported rape cover-up.

“This kind of cover-up is exactly why we need ethics reform and a shake-up of the status quo in Illinois government,” Bailey recently said in a press release. “This is an outrage and a full criminal investigation needs to be conducted immediately.”

WBEZ has reported the email in question was sent by longtime Madigan confidant and lobbyist Mike McClain, who makes mention of a ghost payroll scheme and "the rape in Champaign," and commends an unnamed state employee's loyalty for remaining quiet about both. 

Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago)

In his press release, Bailey identifies Illinois Agriculture Director John Sullivan as someone "who did not report to the authorities that a rape had occurred” after seeing the email in 2012.

“Agriculture Director Sullivan should have resigned and there should be others who need to show just a little integrity and step down as well,” Bailey said. “It defies credibility that John Sullivan knew of the email and its contents, but Speaker Mike Madigan, a close confidant of the email’s author, Michael McClain, knew nothing.”