“Nobody gets in to see the wizard. Not nobody, not no how.”
Those words quoting the “Wizard of Oz” hung from the wall of the statehouse office of Tim Mapes.
And they summed up his job nicely. He was the gatekeeper to Mike Madigan, speaker of the House and chairman of the Illinois Democratic Party.
He routinely turned away legislators, lobbyists, businessmen and others seeking an audience with the most powerful politician in Illinois.
But in the wake of a recent plea deal between Commonwealth Edison and federal prosecutors: people are asking: What does Tim Mapes know and what will he say?
There is no indication that Mapes has done anything wrong, but it was the nature of his job to be in the know.
After all, for 26 years, he was Madigan’s chief of staff. And he also was the director of the Illinois Democratic Party – while Madigan was speaker of the House and chairman of the Democratic Party.
Tim Mapes was once one of the most important people in Springfield. But unless you are an inside player in state government, you’ve likely never heard of him.
In the recent plea deal, ComEd essentially admitted to giving bribes to Madigan. The bribes would be in the form of contracts and jobs at the giant utility that Madigan could dole out to his supporters.
Through a spokesperson, Madigan has said he is innocent of wrongdoing. And he has not been charged with a crime.
That said, it would appear that Madigan is the target of federal prosecutors. And this is why questions have been percolating through Springfield as to whether prosecutors will seek Mapes’ cooperation in pursuing a case against Madigan.
When George Ryan went to prison, it was after his former chief of staff, Scott Fawell, testified against him. When Rod Blagojevich was locked up, it was after his chief of staff Bradley Tusk testified against him.
So, it’s no stretch to assume the feds may be hoping for some cooperation from Mapes or one of Madigan’s other confidants.
“Madigan plays it pretty close to the vest,” Fawell said. “He only has a few people who he tells what he is thinking and Mapes was one of them. I anticipate the feds are going to put pressure on him to see if they can get him to talk. The thing is when you are chief of staff, you’re the go-to guy to get things done.”
Fawell, who was sentenced to more than six years in prison on corruption charges, said the pressure to testify is enormous.
“They will go through your taxes and see if there is anything there that they can prosecute you on. Then they will lean on your friends and family members and threaten them with prosecution if you don’t cooperate. There is a reason the federal government wins 99 percent of its cases.”
Mapes did not return phone calls seeking comment Monday. He has not been accused of any crime.
But all has not been well between Mapes and his former boss.
In 2018, Madigan removed Mapes from his jobs, after he was accused of fostering “a culture of sexism, harassment and bullying that creates an extremely difficult working environment.”
It’s worth noting the sexagenarian was not accused of making sexual advances toward any staff members. Accusations centered on remarks that just a few years before would likely not have resulted in any disciplinary action. He was an early casualty of the #MeToo movement.
Whether the circumstances of his ouster would make him more or less likely to cooperate with federal investigators is not known.
“It’s an extremely isolated position he’s in right now,” Fawell said. “I remember showing up at a golf tournament when the feds were investigating George Ryan. Nobody wanted to talk to me because they feared being subpoenaed. You feel very alone.”
Longtime statehouse reporter and political observer Charles Wheeler III, said he doesn’t anticipate criminal charges being made against Madigan.
“Mike Madigan knows where the line is and he doesn’t cross it. He’s not going to cross it in public and he’s not going to cross it in private when he’s talking to Tim Mapes or anyone else. If the prosecutors had anything on Madigan, they would have already charged him.”
But Fawell said dealing with federal prosecutors is rarely so straight forward.
“I’m not saying that people lie. But after they have been interviewed several times by prosecutors, what they remember being said in a particular conversation can change.”
- OneMan - Tuesday, Aug 4, 20 @ 10:17 am:
“Feds so far up my keister I can taste Brylcreem” — Uncle Junior
We will see how this plays out.
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Aug 4, 20 @ 10:22 am:
I think the Feds would love for Mapes to tell them everything he knows. But I don’t think they’d learn anything new.
Maybe they can get some leverage over Mapes to get him to talk, but until they do, I don’t think he’s going to volunteer anything. And then, as Charlie Wheeler alluded to, Mapes can spill his guts and still not be able to help the Feds because Madigan probably did not break the law.
My guess is that Mapes filed his taxes properly over the years and is otherwise not in any federal jeopardy. If the Feds had something to squeeze him over, odds are we’d know about it by now.
Remember, they raided McClain’s house, not Mapes’.
- DuPage Saint - Tuesday, Aug 4, 20 @ 10:24 am:
I remember the “Fighting Fawells” well. Sometimes arrogance comes into play.
- Amalia - Tuesday, Aug 4, 20 @ 10:29 am:
all I know is, I’m glad Mapes is not around. nasty.
- fs - Tuesday, Aug 4, 20 @ 10:31 am:
== If the prosecutors had anything on Madigan, they would have already charged him==
This line has been repeated by many the last few weeks, but it’s not always true when it comes to the Feds. It’s entirely possible that they have enough to indict him, but they want to build a stronger case that almost guarantees conviction before doing so.
- Not a Billionaire - Tuesday, Aug 4, 20 @ 10:31 am:
Coronovirus is raging at some Federal Prisons. That might be motivating.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Aug 4, 20 @ 10:33 am:
Specifically to this;
=== Longtime statehouse reporter and political observer Charles Wheeler III, said he doesn’t anticipate criminal charges being made against Madigan.
“Mike Madigan knows where the line is and he doesn’t cross it. He’s not going to cross it in public and he’s not going to cross it in private when he’s talking to Tim Mapes or anyone else. If the prosecutors had anything on Madigan, they would have already charged him.”===
I look at the Feds making a deal to take a whopping $200 million from ComEd, then “waiving” over $200 million from ComEd, and asking for tips and not charging MJM as an indication of what Mr. Wheeler is saying, out loud.
I don’t think cutting ComEd a $200+ million break is “being close to indict Madigan”
I think it’s “Ya gotta helps us if we can get a direct link, you better show up”
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Aug 4, 20 @ 10:34 am:
=== It’s entirely possible that they have enough to indict him, but they want to build a stronger case that almost guarantees conviction before doing so.===
So you give ComEd a $200+ million break?
Lots of “hope” there, nearly a quarter of a billion dollars in hope.
- Candy Dogood - Tuesday, Aug 4, 20 @ 10:39 am:
===He was an early casualty of the #MeToo movement. ===
I wonder if Mr. Reeder knows what the word casualty means. Pray tell, who else are casualties?
Is the #MeToo Movement a war in Mr. Reeder’s mind? Or is blatant sexual harassment, gender discrimination, and taking action against complainants of harassment — or failing to stop action — something Mr. Reeder sees as accidents?
Such an interesting way to describe accountability.
===that just a few years before would likely not have resulted in any disciplinary action===
Does Mr. Reeder mean to suggest that in say 2015 or 2014 that what Tim Mapes was held accountable for was okay?
It seems so unusual to me to read a piece speculating on whether or not Tim Mapes will flip on Speaker Madigan and to have the article be completely derailed by the language used to describe why Tim Mapes was fired and an effort to qualify how the behavior that leader to him being fired was no big deal.
I’m not sure Scott Reeder gets it, after all, we all know that the old men are harmless, right Scott?
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Tuesday, Aug 4, 20 @ 10:49 am:
You don’t need anyone to flip if you have them on tape or text message talking about their criminal activity. If you read the ComEd plea deal, it really seems like the feds have McClain and Pramaggiore on tape and text message already.
- D - Tuesday, Aug 4, 20 @ 10:53 am:
Oswego Willy highlighted the most important quote in the article by Charlie Wheeler, it is important because Charlie has had the pleasure of following Madigan his entire career in Springfield. Madigan learned his skills following the advice of the late Mayor Daly and that was keeping one’s self from doing the actual dirty work that could lead to any crinimal charges
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Aug 4, 20 @ 10:58 am:
===McClain and Pramaggiore on tape and text message already.===
Ok… so you need the direct link showing action.
=== If we have to pay somebody off, we’ll pay somebody off. If we have to lean on somebody, intimidate somebody, we’ll intimidate somebody. We’re experienced. This is our business.===
Alfonse Simone… was never Mr. Tellegio
We’ll see.
- South of 64 - Tuesday, Aug 4, 20 @ 11:01 am:
The investigation sounds like it is using the same tactics that President Trump complained about. President Trump doesn’t understand that what happened to his people is standard operating procedure for the FBI and U.S. Attorney’s office. Fawell hit it on the head as to the procedures. I agree with Wheeler
- fs - Tuesday, Aug 4, 20 @ 11:05 am:
Willy you’re forgetting one, very important aspect of that ComEd deferred prosecution. It’s not just $200 million, it’s also contingent on continued cooperation. In Feds speak, that can be used pretty broadly. They’re almost certainly not finished with ComEd.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Aug 4, 20 @ 11:14 am:
===In Feds speak, that can be used pretty broadly===
Ok, but what you’re forgetting is with all the hours and hours, allegedly, of people on tape or in text…
…
… they *still* need nearly a quarter of a billion in waived monies from ComEd to get close to Madigan?
Huh?
I mean, I’ve heard of a wide berth, or wide latitude, or giving way, but that’s the type of concession that’s more of a hope than a leverage?
If they can find something now to corroborate…
- MOON - Tuesday, Aug 4, 20 @ 11:16 am:
Wheeler is 100% correct.
Madigan has never and never will cross that line.
- SSL - Tuesday, Aug 4, 20 @ 11:18 am:
It all comes down to proving it. A serious crime was committed. ComEd customers got ripped off, and people were unjustly rewarded. Squeeze whoever ComEd gives you until they give you a bigger fish. Squeeze very hard. No mercy. If someone wants to be a hero to protect the guilty, let them serve a very long sentence.
- Annonin' - Tuesday, Aug 4, 20 @ 11:20 am:
Hate to break this to Scooter, but no one wanted to talk to him at a golf outing under any circumstances
- Cook county thinker - Tuesday, Aug 4, 20 @ 11:44 am:
MJM has been quite careful in his personal life and public life. The only thing that can indict and convict MJM is his own words on tape. Either the feds have that or they don’t.
- Powdered Whig - Tuesday, Aug 4, 20 @ 11:46 am:
=== A serious crime was committed ===
What was the crime? Who committed it? Who has knowledge of it? These questions need to be answered before you can make such a strong statement that a crime was committed.
- Bud's Bar Stool - Tuesday, Aug 4, 20 @ 11:51 am:
=== It’s worth noting the sexagenarian was not accused of making sexual advances toward any staff members. Accusations centered on remarks that just a few years before would likely not have resulted in any disciplinary action. He was an early casualty of the #MeToo movement. ===
Reeder can’t help but put his right-wing, red meat bona fides on full display for his base. This is the same guy who trashed Jim Edgar for taking issue with Bruce Rauner’s slash and burn of state government, and who devoted years of his life to browbeating the teacher’s unions.
Mapes reportedly told Sherri Garrett not to show her “pink bra” at an inauguration event. That’s not sexual enough for you, Scott? That’s right - just a few years earlier, that would have been no big deal. Oh, to get back to the good old days when men could just say how they feel and women knew their place. Right, Scott?
Mapes was a “casualty” of the #MeToo movement? Shame on the editor who permitted such an egregious and self-serving inversion of reality.
- Drake Mallard - Tuesday, Aug 4, 20 @ 11:51 am:
annonin @11:20 so true.
He really was an ‘ unpleasant’ individual to deal with
- the Patriot - Tuesday, Aug 4, 20 @ 11:54 am:
==What was the crime? Who committed it? Who has knowledge of it?==
Bribes, kickbacks, no show jobs, other things of value in exchange for votes would be the crime.
Com Ed Committed it, they have knowledge of it, and they are talking. These things happened. It is not a debate.
Convicting Madigan still the debate.
As a rule, I don’t bet against the Patriots or Madigan. Belechick ain’t got Brady, and Madigan ain’t got Mapes, but I’m still not putting my money against them.
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Tuesday, Aug 4, 20 @ 12:08 pm:
No one but the USA knows the full extent of the criminal file on Madigan et al., and there is no evidence to say that the USA would have charged Madigan already if they had the evidence to.
I can think of a reason not to file charges now against the associates. If you charge someone like McClain now, you give him access to discovery. McClain is probably going stand tall, and he will probably share the evidence he gets from the feds with Madigan. This will give Madigan the opportunity to bolster his defense. No charges, no discovery, and you keep them all in the dark about the full extent of the government’s case.
- @misterjayem - Tuesday, Aug 4, 20 @ 12:22 pm:
Candy Dogood said what I was going to say and used more temperate language in doing so.
– MrJM
- Joe Bidenopolous - Tuesday, Aug 4, 20 @ 12:29 pm:
Everyone who knows Mapes knows that he’s a bit…persnickety. I’d be pretty shocked if he didn’t have everything buttoned up tightly even on the fringes. I think it would be a major upset if he flipped. I totally agree with Charlie as well.
Candy - great words! To answer a question you didn’t ask, Reeder is a bit of a whackadoo who used to write for IPI. I think that’s all you really need to know.
- Anyone Remember - Tuesday, Aug 4, 20 @ 12:31 pm:
“But after they have been interviewed several times by prosecutors, what they remember being said in a particular conversation can change.”
Prime example: James MacDougal in Whitewater.
- natty lite - Tuesday, Aug 4, 20 @ 12:38 pm:
Mr. Fawell resisted the feds for a long time until they were able to put the screws to his girlfriend. As it relates to the Speaker, the papers reported that the feds were investigating one of those checks that were signed by Mike McClain’s wife. If there’s anything there for the feds to find, it’s an incredibly expensive and difficult thing for families to go through.
- Dotnonymous - Tuesday, Aug 4, 20 @ 1:09 pm:
More like Alexander Butterfield in Watergate.
- Marty36 - Tuesday, Aug 4, 20 @ 1:10 pm:
Sorry, but one has to commit a crime befor you can be charged with one. If the accusation is Mike McClain shook down ComEd then maybe you have a case. But the Madigan connection to this notion is paper thin. That’s why the Feds got nothing. Speaker Madigan runs Illinois - not the Feds. These idiots ought to charge Trump for crimes in plain sight rather than try to shake down state leaders who happen to be Democrats.
- SSL - Tuesday, Aug 4, 20 @ 1:50 pm:
You want to deny a crime was committed when one party already admitted it, go ahead. The other guilty party or parties haven’t owned up to what they did just yet.
- South Side Ford Guy - Tuesday, Aug 4, 20 @ 1:56 pm:
I wouldn’t buy a used car off of Fawell. Well, I did buy a new car off of him. Actually two. All he wanted to talk about once he found out we went to Springfield for work was what everyone was up to. How is the mileage on this car? “Don’t know. Does everyone still go to Saputos? “
- low level - Tuesday, Aug 4, 20 @ 3:52 pm:
I never understood how he could deal with the pressure that job entails. Hope he’s doing ok
- Analyst - Tuesday, Aug 4, 20 @ 4:21 pm:
How can MJM be charged if Com Ed
has not yet been charged? Where is
the conspiracy, the crime? Also,
where is the crime if the
legislation passed with bipartisan
support and endorsement by environ-
mental and consumer advocates
- Pundent - Tuesday, Aug 4, 20 @ 5:47 pm:
=Convicting Madigan still the debate.=
I think indicting Madigan would be the first topic of debate and that hasn’t happened yet.
Keep in mind that a great deal of what Blagojevich was charged with came after he was deemed “Public Official A.” Blago was just that dumb. If the feds are waiting for Madigan to slip, that could be a really long wait. I’m not saying that Madigan has done nothing wrong. Time will tell. He may very well be indicted. But with each passing day there’s a growing chance that he won’t.
- cudawodashuda - Wednesday, Aug 5, 20 @ 3:22 pm:
Fawell was/is a coward….why GHR kept him around was a mistake…Those of us who worked for GHR knew that Fawall or one of his buddies was going to get GHR in trouble. Fawell would lie to save his own butt or supposedly his girlfriend’s from going to jail.