Through an attorney Tuesday, former Illinois House Speaker Michael
Madigan pleaded not guilty in federal court to corruptly arranging
for $22,500 to be paid by AT&T Illinois to a Madigan ally for no
work. He faces an additional 22 counts in a similar federal charge
alleging nearly a decade of corrupt schemes with utility ComEd.
House Minority Leader Jim Durkin, R-Western Springs, said the
investigation has not concluded.
“My guess is that we will see some more entities down the road who
will suffer the same fate of as CommonWealth Edison and AT&T all at
the hands of Mike Madigan and also his enablers that are currently
running the House of Representatives,” Durkin said during a virtual
news conference after Madigan’s plea Tuesday.
Madigan, 80, is still in control of the Friends of Michael J Madigan
political fund, which has more than $6.4 million cash on hand,
according to IllinoisSunshine.org. That fund has taken around $5,500
from two donors so far this calendar year. Among the recent
expenditures listed is payroll to various people ranging from $175
to $853.
Another political fund for the 13th Ward Committee in Chicago is
still getting donations. Since the beginning of September, nearly
$300,000 has been donated to the fund Madigan controls, according to
IllinoisSunshine.org, with more than $2.7 million cash on hand.
Among recent expenditures listed are bills for food, utilities,
including payments to AT&T, and $14,056 for Chicago White Sox
tickets.
Durkin said to him, that shows Madigan is still wielding power.
“Mike Madigan, while he’s away he’s not gone, and I feel very
strongly about that and that’s why he made sure that the person that
succeeded him was going to be nothing more than an extension of his
policies and how he runs state government,” Durkin said.
Durkin has publicly asked multiple questions of Madigan’s successor,
Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, including
whether Welch stands by statements he made in Madigan’s favor in
late 2020 and in taking the office in 2021.
Welch’s office didn’t return messages seeking comment.
Greg Bishop reports on Illinois government and
other issues for The Center Square. Bishop has years of
award-winning broadcast experience and hosts the WMAY Morning
Newsfeed out of Springfield.
|
|