* Press release…
Below is a statement on behalf of Speaker Madigan. There will be no further comment.
“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. 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.”
- Dancing Bears - Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 2:00 pm:
Already digging in his heels. This is going to get nasty if he refuses to at least relinquish his position as Speaker.
- iggy - Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 2:01 pm:
bahahahahaha
he’s fighting this till the end. good luck with that mikey.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 2:05 pm:
=== “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.”===
Michael J. Madigan, Speaker of the Illinois General Assembly;
October, 2019
“… “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.”… “
If Madigan is indicted…
…the writing is on the wall… by his own hand.
- IrishPirate - Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 2:05 pm:
I believe him.
OH man this is gonna be fun to watch.
- Captain Obvious - Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 2:06 pm:
Translation: I ain’t resigning, and when the dust clears you don’t want to be someone who said I should. Going to take an enormous amount of pressure to remove him. I doubt the Democrats are willing to apply it. He probably knows some stuff about them too.
- Etown - Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 2:07 pm:
Does he really think anyone besides his House minions believe his BS
Cmon man. You are an embarrassment and a big reason why the vast majority of Illinoisans have no faith in Springfield to protect their interests now or in the future
Good to see you are asking House Dems for responses Rich. Well done
- RNUG - Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 2:08 pm:
As I said in the QOTD, he won’t resign until forced to, and will use his resignation as a bargaining chip.
- 1st Ward - Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 2:10 pm:
That’s a poor statement from the Speakers Office.
- Lakeside Girl - Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 2:11 pm:
The economic healing of Illinois begins only when Madigan is gone.
- Reckoning - Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 2:13 pm:
It’s time for bravery from these House Dems, and based on the subscriber post, there is none.
If you vote for a Dem not speaking out you think this corruption is fine.
- TKMH - Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 2:13 pm:
Guess it’s worth posting another great scene from The Wire…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcZI02m7JOE
- That which is understood... - Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 2:13 pm:
Oh boy a lot of very specific sentences in that first paragraph. This is going to be fun.
- That which is understood... - Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 2:15 pm:
==If you vote for a Dem not speaking out you think this corruption is fine.==
Or you think that even given this corruption, the Democratic Party of Illinois better serves Illinoisans than the Republicans. Several election cycles would suggest that’s what Illinoisans believe. Perhaps ILGOP ought to ask themselves why that is the case and change course on several policies.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 2:15 pm:
=== not speaking out you think this corruption is fine.===
Now do;
Bost
Davis
Kinzinger
LaHood
Shimkus
Or let it play out… you’d think if you are such a partisan this kind of “drip-drip” is good.
Geez, Louise…
- Pundent - Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 2:16 pm:
=Going to take an enormous amount of pressure to remove him.=
Nope. Just going to take an indictment. If that happens the die has been cast. Wait and see.
- Keyrock - Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 2:23 pm:
Among other things, he didn’t deny requiring political work and /or donations in exchange for making a successful job recommendation.
- Ron Burgundy - Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 2:29 pm:
I don’t see “I’m not a target of anything” in there.
- Donnie Elgin - Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 2:30 pm:
standard non-denial
- lake county democrat - Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 2:34 pm:
They should have listened to Scott Drury: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ok7L4qNMsYA
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 2:37 pm:
=== Scott Drury===
Mr. Drury aided and abetted Bruce Rauner.
Mr. Drury is NO Hero, Illinois is better off with him not serving in the GA.
- Etown - Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 2:38 pm:
Cmon House Democrats
One of you has to have to the guts to challenge this BOZO for Speaker come January
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 2:40 pm:
Maybe my read is off, but I actually take Madigan at his word somewhat and believe the things in the ComEd plea deal. I think Madigan and his people really think they did not do anything “unlawful” even though it looks like bribery from reading 18 USC 201. You can commit bribery by seeking or demanding a thing of value for someone else. They think they know all the loopholes, and they are so slick that they can live just on the other side of unlawfulness without anyone getting wise to them.
- ILPundit - Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 2:46 pm:
Weak sauce
- A Guy - Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 3:01 pm:
== he believes will clearly demonstrate that he has done nothing criminal or improper.”==
…..”noted”
- JS Mill - Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 3:04 pm:
Cmon Republicans
One of you has to have to the guts to challenge this BOZO for President come January
Fixed it for you.
And yes, I want MJM gone. Our Nation has a bigger problem and the GOP are cowering under the bed or going full Vichyite.
- Just Me 2 - Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 3:07 pm:
Basically it was an “up” day.
- Etown - Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 3:23 pm:
Well said JS Mill
- Pelonski - Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 3:34 pm:
It’s pretty easy to pick apart that statement. The Speaker may never have done anything, but did he direct others to do so? Did he have knowledge of them doing so?
- Al Magordo - Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 4:00 pm:
OW -
Arroyo was caught on tape offering a bribe.
It does not seem that’s the case here.
Ford was indicted, never asked to resign, I suspect the Feds are going to have to put up more if they are hoping to force Madigan out of office.
- anon2 - Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 4:07 pm:
Is an implicit quid pro quo a crime?