Republican attorney general candidate Steve Kim is criticizing Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s links to indicted ex-Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan.
“Corrupt politicians like JB Pritzker and Mike Madigan have ignored what’s best for Illinois in favor of expanding their own sphere of influence,” Kim, an international business attorney, said on Facebook. “Under their careless leadership, our state has suffered.”
Madigan is facing a 22-count federal indictment on bribery and racketeering charges. The 106-page indictment includes allegations that “the future Governor of the State of Illinois” would help an alderman get an appointment to a six-figure job to a state board. The alderman has been identified as Danny Solis.
Pritzker denied those allegations.
“The governor does not recall Michael Madigan ever asking him to consider Danny Solis for any position,” a Pritzker spokesman said in a statement.
Madigan denies the federal accusations.
“I was never involved in any criminal activity,” Madigan said in a statement. “The government is attempting to criminalize a routine constituent service: job recommendations. That is not illegal, and these other charges are equally unfounded. Throughout my 50 years as a public servant, I worked to address the needs of my constituents, always keeping in mind the high standards required and the trust the public placed in me. I adamantly deny these accusations and look back proudly on my time as an elected official, serving the people of Illinois.”
Kim is a Chicago resident who immigrated to the U.S. from South Korea. He was once an advisor to Gov. Jim Edgar. He serves on the Rules Committee of the Illinois Supreme Court and was previously an appointee to the Illinois Human Rights Commission. In 2010 he mounted an unsuccessful campaign of the same office against Madigan’s daughter, former attorney general Lisa Madigan.
