* Press release…

This morning, the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Northern District of Illinois announced that after a years long federal investigation into a widespread bribery scheme, ComEd has agreed to pay $200 million to resolve the case. In their release, the U.S. The Attorney’s Office stated that “ComEd Admits Arranging Jobs and Contracts for Political Allies of High-Level State of Illinois Official.”

That high-level State of Illinois Official is none other than Speaker Mike Madigan.

Illinois Republican Party Chairman Tim Schneider released the following statement in response to today’s news along with the ongoing federal investigation into Governor JB Pritzker:

“The people of Illinois now live in a state where both the Speaker of the House and the Governor are under criminal investigation. Even for a state with a history of corruption, this is unprecedented. Crimes of bribery and tax fraud cannot be tolerated from our elected officials. As we learn more about the bribery investigation into Speaker Madigan and the property tax fraud investigation into Governor Pritzker, our hearts go out to the people of Illinois who are once again left yearning for elected leaders who work for them, not for themselves. The Democratic culture of corruption in Illinois must come to an end.”

*** UPDATE 1 *** From the GOP delegation…

Congressmen Rodney Davis (IL-13), Darin LaHood (IL-18), John Shimkus (IL-15), Adam Kinzinger (IL-16), and Mike Bost (IL-12) released the following statement regarding the unprecedented developments in ongoing federal criminal investigations of Speaker Michael Madigan and Governor J.B. Pritzker:

“Illinoisans are sadly no strangers to corruption in our state’s politics, but simultaneous federal criminal investigations into both the Speaker of the House and the Governor are truly unprecedented. Today’s developments in the ongoing bribery investigation against Speaker Madigan and the property tax fraud investigation against Governor Pritzker are disturbing. We fully support U.S. Attorney John Lausch and other federal officials in their important work to bring those who violate the public’s trust to justice. The people of Illinois deserve better than Illinois Democrats’ embarrassing, systemic corruption.”

…Adding… Press release…

Illinois Rising Action executive director Kayleen Carlson released the following statement in response to the ongoing federal investigations of Governor JB Pritzker and Speaker Mike Madigan:

“For too long, corruption has been the calling card for government and politics in Illinois. Today it’s more of the same with the news that Speaker Mike Madigan is under federal investigation for bribery and Governor JB Pritzker is under investigation for property tax fraud. The people of Illinois have once again been betrayed by elected leaders at the top of the Illinois Democratic Party. These investigations should serve as yet another reminder that corruption is still running rampant and that Illinois Democrats are only interested in serving themselves, and not the people they were elected to represent.”

…Adding… Another one from the ILGOP…

Illinois Republican Party Chairman Tim Schneider has released a statement following the separate press conferences of Governor Pritzker and U.S. Attorney Lausch:

“Based on the evidence presented today by the United States Attorney’s Office, and in the context of months of revelations about the federal investigation into Speaker Michael Madigan and his closest associates, we believe it’s time for Speaker Madigan to do the right thing for Illinois and resign his office.

Governor Pritzker’s refusal to make such a clear statement may have to do with his own federal investigation into property tax fraud. Perhaps he is concerned that calling on Speaker Madigan to resign will lead to calls for his own resignation. We cannot discern when Governor Pritzker thinks Speaker Madigan should resign: next week, only when he’s indicted or only after he’s been convicted. Nor can we discern whether Governor Pritzker will commit to resigning should the allegations against him bear truth.

The people of Illinois cannot afford this scandal to drag on for months and years. Speaker Madigan should spare the citizens of Illinois by resigning immediately. Should the federal probe of Governor Pritzker’s property tax fraud continue to escalate, we would expect him to do the same.”

Rep. Batinick…

With Federal Prosecutors filing federal bribery charges against Commonwealth Edison Company (“ComEd”) and implicating Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan, State Representative Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield) is renewing his call for Madigan to resign and demanding lawmakers return to Springfield to pass comprehensive ethics reform.

Today’s charges come after a yearlong corruption investigation into state and local governments. ComEd has agreed to resolve the investigation through a deferred prosecution agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s office, which include paying a $200 million fine. Through that agreement ComEd, the largest electric utility company in Illinois, has admitted it arranged jobs, subcontracts and pay-offs for political associates of Mike Madigan.

“I was the first elected official to call for the Speaker to resign and that sentiment rings even truer today,” said Rep. Batinick. “If we are going to truly root out corruption in our system, it starts from the top down. Elected officials need to be held the most accountable and with today’s charges, it is clear that the time has come for the Speaker to answer to the people of Illinois.”

In 2016, Rep. Batinick worked tirelessly against a ComEd bailout bill, SB2814, which required a statewide rate hike to prevent the closure of two nuclear power plants in Illinois. The rate increase provided for in SB2814 was expected to generate more than $200 million a year over the next ten years, but was the key factor in the federal probe against ComEd. For Batinick, this bailout was nothing more than a politically-connected coalition of Energy Industry players rushing through a complicated bill to force electric rate increases throughout Illinois. In 2019, he filed legislation, HB3987, to eliminate the bailout, which was never called by the Speaker for consideration.

The Representative is calling for lawmakers to return to Springfield to work on a comprehensive ethics reform package. “As lawmakers, we need to get back to Springfield and adopt stronger ethics laws. While the sense of urgency to make this change has been lost on the majority party for far too long, today’s federal charges reinforce what the Republican caucus has been supporting for years: we need change in Illinois and it must come soon.”

An ethics reform package filed by the House Republicans last year was never given consideration in the House of Representatives. A list of that legislation is here.

*** UPDATE 2 *** Leader Durkin…

Illinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) released the following statement on the new information released from the ongoing federal corruption investigations:

“Earlier this week, I pushed to reform our broken political system in Illinois and once again, Speaker Madigan dismissed the need for ethics reform in Illinois. Today, we see why.

The announcement against ComEd and “Public Official A” and the ongoing investigation of Cook County Property tax corruption are another sad commentary on the state of our state. The deep federal investigations into the highest members of the Democratic Party and their abuse of the Cook County property tax system is finally coming to light.

For too long, one man, Speaker Madigan, has held so much power, and the old axiom holds true: power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

The chance for ethics reform this session has been blocked. Any hope for real property tax reform has been stalled. The system has been rigged to benefit those in power, and to keep the Democratic Party in control while the citizens of Cook County and Illinois suffer.

Today, I hope, is a day of awakening for citizens of Illinois. We sit here in a bankrupt state, burdened by the actions, or in many cases inaction, of the Democratic Party of Illinois that through Speaker Madigan has held the reins of power for decades.

The allegations presented today are troubling and downright depressing. Speaker Madigan needs to “speak” up on this issue, and if the allegations are true, he needs to resign immediately. Just as important, I hope that members of the General Assembly in the majority party, the Democratic Party, have the courage to finally stand up and demand an explanation of their leader that they have for decades elected to rule.

The citizens of Illinois deserve so much better.”

*** UPDATE 3 *** Leader Brady…

The following is a statement by Senate Republican Leader Bill Brady.

“At the same time Illinois Democrats are pushing for a massive tax increase, residents are again confronted with Democratic corruption at the highest levels of their state government. If the allegations reported today against Speaker Madigan turn out to be true, then he should resign.”