Here are Illinois Gov. J. B. Pritzker’s reactions on hearing of the fines levied against ComEd:
CHICAGO — Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Friday that Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan “must resign†if allegations of corruption are true against the fellow Democrat long considered the state’s most powerful lawmaker.
Federal prosecutors said electric utility ComEd has agreed to pay $200 million to resolve a federal criminal investigation into a long-running bribery scheme that implicates Madigan. They say the company has admitted that from 2011 to 2019 it arranged jobs, subcontracted work and monetary payments related to those jobs “for various associates of a high-level elected official for the state of Illinois.”
“The speaker has a lot that he needs to answer for, to authorities, to investigators, and most importantly, to the people of Illinois,†Pritzker said during a stop in suburban Chicago.
Mr. Madigan, of course, denies any wrongdoing. Keep in mind the advice of the late Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, Dan Rostenkowski: “Never take a bribe. Just hand ’em your business card”. Also bear in mind that we have Gov. Pritzker on tape (from before he was governor) engaging in a transparently corrupt discussion with his predecessor in the job, Rod Blagojevich. He’s not a naïf.
Death or resignation are about the only ways that Mr. Madigan could be pried out of his job. Mere conviction on charges of corruption probably wouldn’t do it.
More here from the Tribune:
At a news conference, U.S. Attorney John Lausch said the filing “speaks volumes about the nature of the very stubborn public corruption problem we have here in Illinois.â€
“The admitted facts detail a nearly decade long corruption scheme involving top management at a large public utility, leaders of state government, consultants and several others inside and outside of government. In two words, it’s not good,†he added.
“The company admitted that it arranged for jobs and vendor subcontracts for Public Official A’s political allies and workers even in instances where those people performed little or no work that they were purportedly hired by ComEd to perform,†the U.S. Attorney’s office said in a statement.
In a criminal filing, prosecutors say Public Official A was the House speaker, which is Madigan. The veteran 13th Ward politician’s associates received $1.32 million from 2011-2019, prosecutors said.
Isn’t is sad how the ludicrously filthy rich and powerful can’t help but act corruptly. It’s like they need the thrill of breaking the law and getting away with it.
The only way short of death Mikey Madigan will be removed from office is if someone posts a video of him trampling a BLM placard. That might do it.
For those who may not know, Madigan is the longest-serving leader of any state or federal legislative body in the history of the United States.
Looks like the Columbus Statue in Grant Part is about to go. Alderman Carlos Ramirez-Rosa is calling for the police to stand down to prevent anyone in the mob that wants to tear it down from suffering any consequences for their actions.
Pritzker has a lot of nerve asking his boss to resign….
“Columbus Statue”
Winning, is well… winning.
Put Madigan’s statue in it’s place.