* From a press release…
House Speaker Michael J. Madigan released the following statement Monday:
“The charges filed against Representative Arroyo are very serious. We have already contacted Representative Arroyo’s counsel to determine whether he will resign as state representative. I urge Representative Arroyo to resign from the House of Representatives, effective immediately. If he refuses, I will take the necessary steps to begin the process to remove him from office.
“Additionally, I have instructed my staff to begin bringing together stakeholders and experts to closely examine our ethics and lobbying laws and find ways to strengthen existing law.”
* More…
…Adding… If they expel him, they could face a repeat of the Derrick Smith debacle…
The Illinois House expelled one of its members Friday, but state Rep. Derrick Smith remains on the November ballot and still could be re-elected. […]
The Illinois Constitution prohibits either house of the General Assembly from expelling a member more than once for the same offense. So, Smith could reclaim his seat by winning the election.
That’s what happened the last time the House kicked out a member, in 1905. Rep. Frank Comerford, D-Chicago, was ejected after accusing his colleagues of corruption and besmirching their “good name and reputation.” But Comerford won the special election called to fill his seat.
Smith was, indeed, reelected. And then he was convicted and had to resign.
- Huh? - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 2:35 pm:
The king has spoken.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 2:36 pm:
Bipartisan call for an indicted member to walk away.
Walk or we’ll get you walking.
- Just Me - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 2:36 pm:
Isn’t Arroyo also the committeeman? If he resigns he gets to appoint his successor, yes?
- fs - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 2:38 pm:
Governor: “Whoa, whoa, whoa, let’s not go overboard here. Resign from his committee, sure, but from his House seat? Let’s see how this all plays out, first.”
- Montrose - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 2:40 pm:
There’s a part of me that says the Fed was ready to do this on Friday, and then someone said, “You know, they’ll all be in Springfield on Monday. I mean, if we are gonna do it, let’s really do it.”
- Hippopotamus - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 2:41 pm:
“…consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.”
- Ron Burgundy - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 2:44 pm:
Well the Speaker just left the Governor hanging.
- Chito - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 2:47 pm:
Montrose, they DID do this on Friday. Today was just the arraignment. Keep up.
- SpfdNewb - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 2:48 pm:
I’m wondering if the Illinois House has the power to refuse to seat someone after an election, like Congress does. Does anyone have an answer?
- Blink - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 2:50 pm:
President Cullerton needs to do the same to the State Senator.
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 2:55 pm:
Shouldn’t Sen. Cullerton resign too then? He’s been indicted.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 2:59 pm:
=== Shouldn’t Sen. Cullerton resign too then? He’s been indicted.===
That’s a Senate thing, meaning only the differences in the chambers are ever present.
- @misterjayem - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 3:00 pm:
[checking in on Cap Fax for the first time at 3pm]
WAITWUT??
– MrJM
- Donnie Elgin - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 3:06 pm:
MJM firewall.
- Just Me - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 3:10 pm:
Senator Cullerton’s problems aren’t directly related to his position as a Member of the General Assembly. He is accused of embezzling money from a union, so not comparing apples to apples with Arroyo.
- aerp - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 3:14 pm:
Why do I think Derrick Smith has another government job compliments of Jesse White?
- Jake From Elwood - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 3:18 pm:
The Spanish translation for “arroyo” is “brook” or “creek”.
It is fair to say that Madigan sent Rep. Arroyo up the arroyo…
- Captain Obvious - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 3:20 pm:
Just Me - distinction without difference for those of us with common sense.
- Long Time R - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 3:22 pm:
This from a guy who’s named in tons of search warrants and who the feds are circling
- Nick Name - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 3:28 pm:
===Well the Speaker just left the Governor hanging.===
He’s good at that. Has had a lot of practice.
- Ron Burgundy - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 3:28 pm:
Just me - Given that at least some of the union’s leadership allegedly knew about and set up the arrangement, with the then-Chair of the Senate Labor Committee, it seems likely that they were paying him to curry favor for their interests in Springfield and before his committee. Yes, for purposes of the charges the union was a victim, but in reality some leaders knew very well what has happening and what their intentions were.
- Cubs in '16 - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 3:31 pm:
===This from a guy who’s named in tons of search warrants and who the feds are circling===
So he should just remain silent on the matter? I don’t understand the logic behind that comment.
- Charlie Brown - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 3:37 pm:
Maybe ban legislators, statewide officeholders and their household members from lobbying state or local government would be a great start.
- Ron Burgundy - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 3:45 pm:
Charlie Brown - And perhaps a revolving door of more than zero days when they leave.
- Grandson of Man - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 3:58 pm:
Wow, pretty powerful from the Speaker, so unlike the U.S. Congress, where the GOP is protecting the president at all costs. Can we ever imagine McConnell demanding that Trump steps down without any due process?
- Demoralized - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 4:04 pm:
==without any due process==
There is no such right when it comes to the topic of removing a public official from office. The Legislature isn’t a court. It’s a political animal. They operate under their own set of rules.
- SOIL M - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 4:21 pm:
Grandson— The biggest difference with Arroyo is that there is actually an indictment with real cbarges, laying out specific laws that were broken and substantial evidence to support those charges. Congress has none of those which is why they have to keep changing the narrative once it is proven to be false.
- Anonymous - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 4:21 pm:
Pretty obvious what the charge is against Representative Arroyo and it’s on tape.
What is the charge against President Trump?
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 4:25 pm:
=== What is the charge against President Trump?===
“The only honest answer is that an impeachable offense is whatever a majority of the House of Representatives considers [it] to be at a given moment in history; conviction results from whatever offense or offenses two-thirds of the other body considers to be sufficiently serious to require removal of the accused from office.”
Minority Leader Gerald Ford, United States Congress
Republican, Michigan.
His remarks in the House (April 15, 1970), Congressional Record, vol. 116, p. 11913.
Questions?
- Demoralized - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 4:25 pm:
==What is the charge against President Trump?==
Are you being facetious? I certainly hope so because nobody can be that dense.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 4:27 pm:
Also, to Mr. Arroyo,
The Illinois House will choose what they deem qualifying.
Both Durkin and Madigan consider indictment a qualifying reason.
That’s how these chambers, and in the above, impeachment(s) work.
- the Patriot - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 4:28 pm:
===“Additionally, I have instructed my staff to begin bringing together stakeholders and experts to closely examine our ethics and lobbying laws and find ways to strengthen existing law.”===
From the guy that has drafted and protected the worst property tax scheme in the country which is one of our states biggest problems because his law firm makes money challenging the taxes.
You will find toilet paper at the bottom of a porta john with less BS than that press release.
- Amalia - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 4:29 pm:
it’s reigning….and indicting….men. boys, please change your ways.
- Sue - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 4:34 pm:
Not a Trump apologist but why even bring him into this discussion.
- Chicagonk - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 4:35 pm:
While I personally do not think Madigan has much to do with the ongoing FBI investigation (then again who knows), at some point the Pritzker, Madigan, and Cullerton are going to need to look at revisiting serious ethics reform. Stop allowing legislators to retire on a Tuesday and become a lobbyist on Wednesday morning. Crack down on legislators that effectively ghost payroll (even if they aren’t as blatant as Tom Cullerton). Disallow the side consultancy gigs that are clearly meant to peddle influence (if not actual votes). And stop allowing legislators to lobby municipal governments (and vice-versa).
- anon2 - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 4:35 pm:
The indicted senator gets the benefit of the doubt, but not the indicted representative. It is just the House has higher ethical standards, or that the Senate believes in innnocence until guilt is proven in court?
- anon2 - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 4:41 pm:
== Maybe ban legislators, statewide officeholders and their household members from lobbying state or local government would be a great start.==
Don’t hold your breath. Legislators of both parties have represented clients over the years. The General Assembly has shown no inclination to put any limits on legislators or just-retired legislators and lobbying.
- Anonymous - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 4:41 pm:
please tell us what the charges are, a lot of us are too dense to figure it out
When the House or Representatives actually votes on opening an official impeachment inquiry we will know more.
Until then, please tell us what is the high crime and misdemeanor that a majority of the House of Representstives have charged the President with
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 4:41 pm:
=== why even bring him (Trump) into this discussion.===
These moves are political moves allowed by constitutionality and chamber rules.
Being giddy about these removals, yet not seeing this POTUS in that light only highlights these moves are mere political reactions with constitutional moves
See the quote above.
Tough to say POTUS can’t be indicted when the lone President of the United States to be sworn in at the threat of impeachment and removal makes the case as to how it can be done.
Looking at past impeachments, and the Ford definition, saying “it can’t happen, but Arroyo” is mere partisan pandering.
- Grandson of Man - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 4:43 pm:
Trump is brought into this discussion to show the contrast of leadership, how one leader is demanding that an alleged lawbreaker resigns, and Republican leaders are protecting the president and not demanding he resigns, even though he openly and illegally solicited foreign assistance for dirt on his political rival, to influence the 2020 election. What kind of influence and message is that, to the country?
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 4:43 pm:
- Anonymous -
Choose a name.
As an apparent Trumpkin, your ignoring the quote from Minority Leader Ford is telling.
- Demoralized - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 4:45 pm:
==what is the high crime and misdemeanor==
It’s whatever the House determines it to be.
Now, back to the actual topic at hand instead of the rabbit hole you’re trying to lead us all down. . .
- southsider - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 4:45 pm:
== Stop allowing legislators to retire on a Tuesday and become a lobbyist on Wednesday morning. Crack down on legislators that effectively ghost payroll (even if they aren’t as blatant as Tom Cullerton). Disallow the side consultancy gigs that are clearly meant to peddle influence (if not actual votes). And stop allowing legislators to lobby municipal governments (and vice-versa). ==]
This would require a constitutional amendment.
- Chicagonk - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 4:47 pm:
@southsider - I highly doubt that it would. Which point do you think would be unconstitutional?
- @misterjayem - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 5:08 pm:
“What is the charge against President Trump?”
Another anonymous commenter contributing exactly as much as one would expect, i.e. nothing.
Perhaps not every anonymous commenter is a useless troll, but life is better if you treat them as such.
– MrJM
- Anonymous - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 5:29 pm:
An apparent Trump supporter?
Not even close but I don’t suffer from Trump derangement syndrome either. Just wondering why if it was such an open and shut case why all of the subterfuge and refusal to open an official inquiry
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 5:30 pm:
Choose a name or go away.
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 5:40 pm:
===men. boys, please change your ways.===
That’s an interesting one, but I guess Anne Pramaggiore just doesn’t exist now or something.
- Just Saying - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 5:40 pm:
Like Oswego Willy
- Amalia - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 5:43 pm:
@Three Dimensional Checkers, Anne is not an elected, nor indicted.
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 5:45 pm:
===nor indicted===
Yet.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 5:47 pm:
===Yet===
Will you hold your breath in the meantime?
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 5:57 pm:
No, but this isn’t a man/boy problem.
- Anonymous - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 7:35 pm:
So Mike Madigan is the great champion of reform calling for the resignation of Rep. Arroyo. Isn’t that rich. Boy ain’t he a reformer. The king of reform. Thanks Speaker for being s quick to throw all has beens under the bus. You are so special.
- Ginhouse Tommy - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 7:49 pm:
The trouble with ethics reform is that it is like sexual harassment training. You have to believe in it and enforce it across the board evenly and without bias to rank. Otherwise it is just a waste of time. Just a show for the public saying We mean business. These people know what the rules are and what they are doing they simply ignore them. This ain’t their first rodeo. Some have a background in law. There is no excuse. I’d wager that this wasn’t a first time for this and he just got caught. Just sayin.
- justacitizen - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 8:11 pm:
===Trump is brought into this discussion to show the contrast of leadership, how one leader is demanding that an alleged lawbreaker resigns, and Republican leaders are protecting the president and not demanding he resigns, even though he openly and illegally solicited foreign assistance for dirt on his political rival, to influence the 2020 election. What kind of influence and message is that, to the country?===
Wishful thinking GoM, but stay tuned for the rest of the story.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 8:16 pm:
=== Wishful thinking GoM, but stay tuned for the rest of the story.===
US House will be voting on Impeachment procedures here in the coming days… so there’s that.
- revvedup - Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 8:23 pm:
All the ethics reform, laws, rules are useless if one has no ethics to start with.