Chicago City Wire

Ammie Kessem rages she’s seen it all before when it comes to Democrats' reluctance to speak out against House Speaker Mike Madigan, even when the situation clearly calls for it.

“I called upon Robert Martwick years ago after the sexual harassment scandals that permeated Madigan’s administration to demand his resignation and Martwick instead doubled down on it and voted him in as speaker of the House yet again,” Kessem told Chicago City Wire. “Madigan has controlled the purse strings of the Democrat Party in Illinois for many years; they won’t dare cross him.”

After nearly four decades of being in control in Springfield, Madigan now finds himself at the center of an unfolding federal corruption probe involving ComEd. Federal prosecutors contend the company engaged in a “years-long bribery scheme” involving jobs, contracts and payments that were steered to him in his role as house speaker and chairman of the Illinois Democratic Party.

To date, no charges have been filed against the state’s longest-serving lawmaker, but prosecutors have not been shy in asserting that the utility giant sought to “influence and reward” Madigan by providing financial benefits to those directly tied to him.

Currently serving as Northwest Side GOP Club president, Kessem said to see Democrats all over the state fall in line behind their longtime leader is to be expected.

“I have zero confidence that the members of the Democrat Party in Illinois and the city of Chicago and Cook County will do the right thing and demand his immediate resignation,” she added. “They would have done it years ago if that was the case.

In publicly announcing the case against Commonwealth Edison public, U.S. Attorney John Lausch noted the investigation is ongoing. The Chicago Tribune reports federal investigators have moved to subpoena Madigan for information, including “possible job recommendations.”