East Central Reporter

Gubernatorial candidate and Senator Darren Bailey is unsurprised about Michael Madigan’s indictment.

“(The) indictment of the former Speaker and leader of the @IllinoisDems is no surprise,” Bailey wrote on Twitter. “As Governor, I’ll root out corruption and ensure those who engage in illegal activity are prosecuted and pay a steep price for violating the public trust. It’s time to reform Springfield.”

Former Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives Michael Madigan denied the claims.

A U.S. Attorney’s Office release reported Madigan was indicted on 22 federal racketeering and bribery counts. Racketeering charges are more commonly associated with organized crime. The indictment alleges that Madigan was the leader of a criminal enterprise meant to give him more political power and financial stability while making money for his political allies. 

A U.S. Attorney’s Office release added Madigan served in a variety of positions, including speaker, representative of Illinois’ 22nd District, committeeman for Chicago’s 13th Ward, chairman of both the Illinois Democratic Party and the 13th Ward Democratic Organization, and partner at the Chicago law firm of Madigan & Getzendanner, and used those positions to further the criminal enterprise. The indictment alleges that Madigan directed the activities of his close friend and co-defendant Michael McClain.

In 2020, The Associated Press reported the electric utility ComEd agreed to pay $20 million “to resolve a federal criminal investigation into a long-running bribery scheme that implicates Madigan.”

“He will cooperate and respond to those requests for documents, which he believes will clearly demonstrate that he has done nothing criminal or improper,” Madigan’s spokeswoman Maura Possley said in a statement to AP.

Madigan resigned as House Speaker in February 2021 after 50 years in the House of Representatives. At the time that Madigan left the legislature, there was an ongoing bribery probe at Commonwealth Edison. He had not been charged at that point.

Rep. Deanne Mazzochi (R-Westmont) is disappointed that Madigan's indictment hasn't inspired Democratic lawmakers to discuss ethics reform legislation.

“It is baffling to me how, even after the indictment of their long time leader for bribery and corruption, as well as the recent bribery cases of lower level Democrat State Senators and Representatives, that Democrats in the majority can justify denying a vote on commonsense ethical reforms for state legislators,” Mazzochi wrote on Facebook.

WTTW reported that Gov. J.B. Pritzker called Madigan’s indictment a wake-up call for politicians in the state. Pritzker denied ever having conversations with Madigan about appointing Daniel Solis to a state position. “I was asked to be a witness and (federal investigators) wanted to talk about any interactions and I was happy to cooperate and answer any and all of their questions,” Pritzker said at an unrelated press event. “I’ve answered all of them, in fact.”