Chicago City Wire

Cook County Republican Party Chairman Sean Morrison said he was far from shocked by the July 17 developments involving Illinois Speaker Mike Madigan.

 “What heard today is nothing new to the residents of our great state. We are all too familiar with widespread government corruption and now we see that it walks hand-in-hand with private sector companies,” Morrison said in a statement sent to Chicago City Wire. “A massive corporation like ComEd exploiting their influence and position in the marketplace through bribery and the cooperation of corrupt elected officials and their associates.”

Commonwealth Edison was charged with a single count of bribery and agreed to a $200 million fine for bribery. It admitted it attempting “to influence and reward" Public Official A beginning around 2011 and continuing through 2019.

Rep. Mike Madigan | File Photo

“Public Official A” is Madigan, court records indicated. He has been in the Illinois Legislature for 50 years and has been the speaker for all but two years since 1983. In addition, he also controls a large campaign fund and serves as the Illinois Democratic Party chairman.

"In addition to the jobs and contracts, ComEd further admitted that it undertook other efforts to influence and reward Public Official A, including by appointing an individual to ComEd’s Board of Directors at the request of Public Official A; retaining a particular law firm at the request of Public Official A; and accepting into the company’s internship program a certain amount of students who resided in the Chicago ward where Public Official A was associated,” the statement said.

The intent was to see favorable legislation passed, including bills impacting electric rates. Morrison said it is time for Madigan – who has not been charged and has vowed to cooperate with the investigation – to come clean.

“I think it’s time for ‘Public Official A’ to publicly address these allegations. It's absolutely shameful and another dark day for the state of Illinois,” Morrison said. “As for Governor Pritzker and his property tax fraud scheme, it is just another example of how Democrats have a total disregard for the laws, regulations and rules that exist for everyone else but them! I look forward to the U.S. Attorney's Office continuing its vigorous efforts to root out public corruption at all levels of government throughout Illinois.”

Madigan, 78, has resisted calls to resign. He has kept a low profile, but released a statement last Friday denying any involvement in illegal activity and pledging full cooperation with the federal investigation.

“The Speaker has never helped someone find a job with the expectation that the person would not be asked to perform work by their employer, nor did he ever expect to provide anything to a prospective employer if it should choose to hire a person he recommended,” the Madigan statement said. “He has never made a legislative decision with improper motives and has engaged in no wrongdoing here. Any claim to the contrary is unfounded. This morning the Speaker accepted subpoenas related to his various offices for documents, asking for, among other things, documents related to possible job recommendations. He will cooperate and respond to those requests for documents, which he believes will clearly demonstrate that he has done nothing criminal or improper.”

Pritzker said he was angry when he learned of the details of the bribery scheme and said if proven true, Madigan must resign.

“I have read several of the articles today. And I am deeply troubled and frankly, I’m furious with what is being reported,” he said. “The speaker has a lot he needs to answer for, to authorities, to investigators and most importantly to the people of Illinois.

“These allegations strike at the core of what public service means,” Pritzker said. “It’s a high calling, public service. It’s a high calling, one in which we serve with a sacred trust to put the people first.

“If these allegations of wrongdoing by the speaker are true, there is no question that he will have betrayed the public trust and he must resign, therefore. In the meantime, I urge the speaker to fully cooperate with the investigation and answer all questions as quickly as possible.”

Morrison, a Palos Park resident, is a former Cook County commissioner with an extensive background in security and investigations. He has been the county GOP chairman since April 2016 and was elected unanimously to a third term this spring.