Chicago City Wire

Gov. J.B. Pritzker is experiencing foggy memory over a requested state appointment from former Chicago Alderman Danny Solis.

“The governor does not recall Michael Madigan ever asking him to consider Danny Solis for any position," a Pritzker spokesman said in a statement. “The administration has no record of Solis being recommended by Madigan. In addition, he was never vetted, appointed or hired for any role in the administration.”

Pritzker and Solis were captured in a photo together around the same time as Solis was seeking a job.

From 1996 to 2019, Solis was a member of the Chicago City Council for the 25th Ward, which encompasses the Lower West Side.

Solis was central to the investigation into former Illinois house speaker Michael Madigan who is facing racketeering charges after being indicted on 22 counts on March 2.

In a series of papers and documents revealed as part of the investigation, Madigan was known as "official A." He and former Commonwealth Edison lobbyist and Quincy-native Michael McClain have been accused of running a racketeering ring involved in a $150 million bribery scandal.

In a statement announcing the indictment, the Department of Justice noted Madigan was indicted on "racketeering and bribery charges for allegedly using his official position to corruptly solicit and receive personal financial rewards for himself and his associates."

"Corruption by an elected official and his associates undermines the public’s confidence in our government," U.S. Attorney John Lausch, who filed the indictment, said. "The indictment alleges a long-term, multifaceted scheme to use public positions for unlawful private gain. Rooting out and prosecuting the kind of corruption alleged in the indictment will always be a top priority for this office."

Madigan, 79, held power for 36 years as House Speaker. He resigned on Feb. 18, 2021, months after his and McClain’s operation was discovered to have funneled $150 million in bribes through ComEd. ComEd itself was investigated under the federal racketeering RICO law until it signed a plea worth $200 million.

Madigan has continued as a senior partner with Madigan and Getzendanner, a law firm specializing in property tax adjustments. For years Madigan was also criticized for his role in that firm for its close ties to other prominent Democrats authorized to lower property taxes.

See Pritzker and Solis posing together below.