Awaiting documents, Democrats postpone Madigan hearing

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - The chairman of an Illinois House committee investigating misconduct by Speaker Michael Madigan has postponed Thursday's hearing.

Democratic Rep. Emanuel 'œChris'ť Welch issued a statement Wednesday saying that the committee is awaiting delivery of a great number of records from ComEd, the utility company at the center of a statehouse bribery scandal. Welch said without the records a during a surge in the coronavirus pandemic, meeting would be fruitless and unsafe.

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 Democrat 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.

Last month, Welch accused Repukblicans who filed the charge that prompted the committee's probe of using it as a platform from which to campaign for Tuesday's election, and promptly postponed proceedings until after its conclusion. House Republican Leader Jim Durkin of Western Springs said Welch was stonewalling.