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ILLINOIS
POLICE SERVE SEARCH WARRANT AT MADIGAN’S SPRINGFIELD OFFICE, LOOKING FOR
EVIDENCE OF SEXUAL ASSAULT, BATTERY BY FORMER STATE LAWMAKER
Illinois Policy Institute/
Austin Berg
State
police executed the search warrant in an attempt to find evidence of
criminal behavior by former Democratic state Rep. Jack Franks. |
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 Soon after Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s “State of the State” address,
police showed up at the Springfield office of the state’s most powerful
politician.
Illinois State Police executed a search warrant at House Speaker Mike Madigan’s
office Jan. 29.
The Chicago Sun-Times obtained the search warrant, which claimed probable cause
for the crimes of “criminal sexual abuse, criminal sexual assault, official
misconduct, stalking and aggravated battery” by former state Rep. Jack Franks, a
Democrat from the northwest suburbs of Chicago and current McHenry County Board
chairman.
The speaker’s office told the Sun-Times it gave information to
authorities in March 2019 regarding Franks, who stepped down in 2017. But Franks
denied any wrongdoing and has not been charged.
 “In April of 2019, I received correspondence from the speaker’s office, which I
quickly responded to with a full denial,” Franks told The Center Square.
Madigan’s office told the Sun-Times it received a complaint about alleged sexual
harassment involving Franks and an employee of the speaker’s office on Nov. 19,
2018. Madigan’s office investigated the claim and imposed restrictions on
Franks, including prohibiting contact with Madigan employees. It remains unclear
whether the alleged victim of Franks’ conduct was satisfied by this punishment.
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Gov. J.B. Pritzker recently told Springfield
political blogger Rich Miller that he would call on members of the
General Assembly to step down when there is “clear” evidence of
targeting by investigators.
“That’s the point at which folks should step aside,” Pritzker said.
Madigan has served as speaker of the Illinois House of
Representatives for 35 of the last 37 years.
State pundits have suggested endless headlines regarding Springfield
misconduct could derail Pritzker’s biggest policy priority, which
gives greater taxing authority to state lawmakers. Those lawmakers
last spring approved a constitutional amendment eliminating
Illinois’ constitutional flat income tax protection, which Pritzker
has dubbed the “fair tax.” Opponents have branded the amendment a
“blank check” for Springfield corruption. Voters will decide the
amendment’s fate at the ballot box Nov. 3.
Should Madigan leave office, state lawmakers have serious work ahead
to restore integrity to the Statehouse.
That includes passing a suite of commonsense anti-corruption
reforms, fair legislative maps and changing the House rules, which
have made Madigan the most powerful legislative leader in the
nation.
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