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Madigan probe delayed until after election; GOP objects

Posted October 06, 2020 7:00 am

By JOHN O'CONNOR

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - The Democratic chairman of an Illinois House committee investigating alleged misconduct by Speaker Michael Madigan has postponed further hearings until after the election.

Rep. Emanuel 'œChris'ť Welch of Hillside accused Republicans on the committee of 'œwearing two hats'ť - one as impartial investigators into Madigan's culpability in a decade-long bribery scheme and another as candidates for the House in tough reelection races to be decided Nov. 3.

The House Republican leader accused Welch of stonewalling.

'œThe Republican members of this committee are also engaged in competitive political campaigns in which they have chosen to campaign almost exclusively against the speaker,'ť Welch said in a statement. 'œThe committee will meet again in person on Nov. 5 in Springfield - without the backdrop of a political campaign.'ť

Utility giant ComEd admitted in a deferred prosecution agreement signed with the U.S. attorney for the northern district of Illinois in July that its top administrators offered no-work lobbyist jobs and sub-contracts to allies of Madigan in exchange for favorable legislation. Madigan is identified in the document only as House speaker. He has not been charged with a crime and denies wrongdoing.

House rules allowed Republicans to form the special investigating committee Welch chairs, but most witnesses they asked to testify have refused. Welch has not responded to requests from GOP members Tom Demmer of Dixon, Deanne Mazzochi of Elmhurst, and Grant Wehrli of Naperville to issue subpoenas. Each faces Democratic opposition in the election. Mazzochi and Wehrli are scrambling against tough competition in once-solidly Republican DuPage County.

House GOP Leader Jim Durkin of Western Springs called Welch's decision 'œa disgrace and a slap in the face to the governor, the General Assembly and the citizens of Illinois.'ť

'œThe U.S. Attorney has given the SIC (special investigating committee) authority to investigate, and Gov. (J.B.) Pritzker has on numerous occasions urged the speaker to testify on his role with ComEd's nine-year bribery scheme,'ť Durkin said 'œYet Rep. Welch refuses to do anything except hide the truth about the corruption of Speaker Madigan and the Democratic Party of Illinois.'ť

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Follow Political Writer John O'Connor at https://twitter.com/apoconnor

FILE - In this July 26, 2017, file photo, Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, speaks at a news conference at the Capitol in Springfield, Ill. Illinois House Republicans have moved to form a special investigative committee on Speaker Madigan, who has been implicated in a federal bribery investigation. Republicans petitioned to form the committee this week, saying Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2020, that the House must "do its job and conduct a thorough investigation." (Justin Fowler/The State Journal-Register via AP, File) The Associated Press

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