* This is a given…
“It reinforces southern Illinois views and prejudices against Chicago and against Madigan, which are now five decades old,” said John Jackson, a visiting professor at the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute in Carbondale. “Republicans are going to try to hang Madigan around the neck of every Democrat who runs for office.”
* On that very same note, the House Republicans sent out a press release yesterday morning blasting freshman Rep. Suzanne Ness (D-Crystal Lake) for not issuing a statement on former Speaker Madigan’s indictment. She issued one last night…
“When I first heard the news about the indictments against Mike Madigan, it reaffirmed that I had made the right decision to vote no alongside 19 other Democrats as the former-Speaker sought to remain in his position.” Ness said.
Ness was elected in the fall of 2020 and was officially sworn-in as State Representative to Illinois’ House District 66 on January 13th, 2021. Being that Ness had not been sworn in as an elected official, she could not be recognized as a member of the 19 Democrats who voted for new leadership, though her no vote was recorded.
That second part is just not true. Rep.-elect Margaret Croke joined what eventually became the 19 House Democrats in November of 2020. She wasn’t sworn in until January.
* WBEZ…
“There were some pretty dark moments,” [Rep. Kelly Cassidy] said. “I remember at the beginning just talking about being frustrated and wanting to say something and people just recoiling, like I had something contagious.”
Similar sentiments came from Alaina Hampton, a former Madigan aide who left the organization after another operative sexually harassed her. In 2019, she settled a lawsuit against two Madigan-controlled political funds, his 13th Ward Democrats and the state party he still led at the time.
“I certainly feel vindicated,” Hampton said of the indictment. “I feel like I’ve received more justice than I did when my lawsuit settled.”
She said her career in politics clearly suffered as long as Madigan kept his power.
“When Madigan lost the speakership last year, I could kind of feel things in politics in Chicago starting to change,” she said. “Politicians and politicos are kind to me again, and I think people could see the ways things were going and that they kind of felt that they went in the wrong direction initially…This has been a long time coming.”
* Press release from yesterday…
It’s been a full day since Mike Madigan’s indictment was announced, and yet we are still waiting to hear from his protégé and hand-picked Comptroller, Susana Mendoza. Mendoza got her start as a career politician in Danny Solis’s Ward Organization, was married in Ed Burke’s home, and has been closely allied with Madigan for years, calling Madigan her “mentor” and nominating him for speaker.
Comptroller candidate Shannon Teresi released the following statement on Susanna Mendoza’s continued silence:
“Susana Mendoza’s silence is telling. The career politician, state Comptroller, and former member of Madigan’s caucus has nothing to say about the largest corruption scandal since Rod Blagojevich? This delay is disappointing though unsurprising, as the Madigan-controlled Democratic Party of Illinois remains Mendoza’s top donor.”
I reached out and was told that the Mendoza campaign had actually sent a statement to the Associated Press upon request. I asked for it as well…
“The allegations in the indictment are very serious and, if true, former House Speaker Michael Madigan should be held accountable and face the consequences.”
* Also yesterday…
24 hours ago, Mike Madigan was indicted by the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois on 22 counts of public corruption, and the state’s chief law enforcement officer remains silent.
“Kwame Raoul’s silence just goes to show you what money can buy,” said Attorney General candidate Steve Kim. “After taking $2.5 million in Madigan money for his 2018 campaign, our state’s Attorney General would rather announce an investigation into Tik Tok than comment on the corruption indictment of the man who ran this state for nearly half a century. It’s well past time for Kwame Raoul to be accountable to the people of Illinois.”
From AG Raoul’s spokesperson today…
We do not and will not comment on any pending investigation or prosecution being conducted by the U.S. Attorney’s office or any of our law enforcement partners.
* Press release…
State Representative Andrew Chesney (R-Freeport) has filed HB 5718, legislation requiring the state to remove the name and likeness of the disgraced Michael J. Madigan from the Capitol building and other state properties.
Madigan, the former longtime Speaker of the House, was indicted on 22 counts of federal racketeering charges and running a criminal enterprise for more than a decade. Chesney is unwavering in his belief that the state not honor Madigan’s legacy of corruption with portraits, plaques and other accolades, especially in the “people’s house.”
“If Democrats are serious about ridding the state of corruption then they will support efforts to remove the honors typically reserved for those who we revere, not those who perpetuated the corruption,” said Chesney. “Ending this era marked by corrupt politicians starts with removing the tenure of Mike Madigan.”
Chesney was one of the three original petitioners to begin the process of investigating the corruption of House Speaker Michael J. Madigan, a move that eventually led to his resignation last year.
OK, first of all, the Republicans are claiming that the special investigation committee started by Chesney’s petition and chaired by now-Speaker Chris Welch was a sham. Can’t have it both ways.
Secondly, I asked Rep. Chesney what there is to remove. He sent me a photo of this plaque of the list of all Illinois House Speakers…
I pointed out that George Ryan’s name is also on that very plaque. His response…
I had the understanding everything was removed in the Capitol on Ryan. In any event, I’d happily support it such a bill. Public corruption is public corruption.
Um, no. Ryan’s photo is still hanging on the second floor…
* More…
* No perp walk for ex-Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan: Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s arraignment next week will be by telephone, despite objections from prosecutors who wanted an in person court hearing. Although this will be a lengthy legal war, the first skirmish is won by Madigan, who won’t have to walk the media plank into court.
* Will Madigan indictment change Illinois politics? ‘We’ve got a long way to go,’ expert says
* Only 19 Democrats broke from Madigan. Will his shadow change course of midterm elections?
* Legislators React to Former House Speaker Michael Madigan’s Indictment
- Socially DIstant watcher - Friday, Mar 4, 22 @ 2:35 pm:
Chesney supports cancel culture
- Google Is Your Friend - Friday, Mar 4, 22 @ 2:36 pm:
I guess Chesney isn’t a details man, but more of an ideas man.
- JoanP - Friday, Mar 4, 22 @ 2:36 pm:
Like it or not, Madigan *was* the Speaker, and so was Ryan.
Or perhaps we can do as the Venetians when Doge Marino Falier attempted a coup. They removed his portrait and in its place painted a black shroud, with an inscription announcing he had been executed.
So much more effective that just taking a name off a plaque.
- Donnie Elgin - Friday, Mar 4, 22 @ 2:41 pm:
=I had made the right decision =
I guess we’ll just have to take her word on this. But we know Ness took a cool $1.2 million from Madigan backed committees.
- Norseman - Friday, Mar 4, 22 @ 2:41 pm:
Somebody keeps spoiling Chesney’s narrative with facts
- Xeno - Friday, Mar 4, 22 @ 2:43 pm:
I think all of the Blago, Ryan, Madigan pictures, plagues, etc. should remain in place. They were elected and held public office. Now if you want to add information about their criminal behavior, I am all for it. But the public should remain aware of the public corruption that has gone on in this state over the years.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Mar 4, 22 @ 2:45 pm:
The removing of the remanence of Speakers, like Ryan or Madigan doesn’t change the imprint they both made holding the gavel.
I believe in the history of the state, including Rod’s painting, not as a reverence or honor but a reminder and truth to his existing in the history of Illinois…
- Perrid - Friday, Mar 4, 22 @ 2:50 pm:
This isn’t Russia. We don’t try to erase people from history because they fell from grace. You think a portrait is too nice for him? Fine. But taking his name off a plaque that literally just lists all of the speakers? It’s silly. It makes everyone advocating it look like a petulant child.
- Vote Quimby - Friday, Mar 4, 22 @ 2:52 pm:
1983, 84, … 99, 101, 102
Ummm.. didn’t someone proofread the plaque that the numbers are representing years and not in numerical order?
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Mar 4, 22 @ 2:53 pm:
I believe they represent GAs?
- Steve - Friday, Mar 4, 22 @ 2:54 pm:
Removing politicians names is pure Maoism. Mike Madigan hasn’t been convicted of anything yet. Even if he is convicted on all accounts erasing his name is an act of fraud. The truth is the truth if you believe in enlightenment values.
- Donnie Elgin - Friday, Mar 4, 22 @ 2:55 pm:
=We don’t try to erase people from history because they fell from grace=
Next, there needs to be a call for the return and destruction of “The honorable Michael J. Madigan. Longest serving Speaker of a state House of Representatives in United States history,” Simon Pearce crystal clocks/s
- very old soil - Friday, Mar 4, 22 @ 3:02 pm:
Did I miss the trial and the conviction?
- Been There - Friday, Mar 4, 22 @ 3:02 pm:
====They removed his portrait and in its place painted a black shroud, with an inscription announcing he had been executed.====
====I believe in the history of the state, including Rod’s painting, not as a reverence or honor but a reminder and truth to his existing in the history of Illinois…====
I agree with OW on this. But I would not object if they added to the plaque not only their service but also they were convicted.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Mar 4, 22 @ 3:08 pm:
- Been There -
Appreciate it, I agree with a plaque…
“Impeached and removed” can be added.
I look at the portraits far-far different than somehow a “Rod Blagojevich State Park and Cross Country Course” exists.
Very different things.
- West Side the Best Side - Friday, Mar 4, 22 @ 3:23 pm:
AG Raoul’s response seems appropriate. Madigan’s charged by the feds with federal crimes. Should the AG’s Office respond to every federal or local county indictment? I realize we’re talking about Mike Madigan and not just a run of the mill defendant, but why would the Office of the Illinois Attorney General be expected to speak to charges by any prosecutor’s office other than their own? As a prosecutor the AG is governed by SC Rule 3.8 Special Responsibilities of a Prosecutor, especially section (f) regarding making statements.
- DuPage Saint - Friday, Mar 4, 22 @ 3:36 pm:
I am old enough to remember when people laughed at r the Soviet Union erasing people from pictures on Red Square. History is history. People were in office and elected. Leave them there. I am a conservative learn from the past teach the past it existed. I guess I am full blown CRT. Teach history real history. Please learn
- Do your homework - Friday, Mar 4, 22 @ 3:40 pm:
Chesney is a joke. He will do/say anything for attention. I can’t take him serious. 🤡
- ArchPundit - Friday, Mar 4, 22 @ 3:42 pm:
Let’s not create a statue of Blago, Madigan, and/or Ryan, but they still were in those positions.
Actually, that statue could be a lot of fun with all three of them. Maybe a QOTD at some point
. Maybe the three of them and a shoebox.
- ArchPundit - Friday, Mar 4, 22 @ 3:45 pm:
=== “Rod Blagojevich State Park and Cross Country Course”
Though, you could find him at the course and not at the Capitol most days.
- NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham - Friday, Mar 4, 22 @ 3:55 pm:
==Rod’s painting,==
They could reproduce an Elvis painting (doesn’t matter whether it’s Young Elvis, Movies Elvis, or Vegas Elvis) and just put that in the empty Rod spot.
- One hand //ing - Friday, Mar 4, 22 @ 3:56 pm:
Chesney there’s literally a portrait of George Ryan in the House gallery. You sit there facing it all day. Kind of weird you didn’t notice it — everyone knows you aren’t busy passing bills.
- ArchPundit - Friday, Mar 4, 22 @ 3:58 pm:
—-They could reproduce an Elvis painting
Statue, Statue, Statue
- The Professor - Friday, Mar 4, 22 @ 4:04 pm:
Whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty? Let’s all calm down for awhile.
- Ghost of the 13th Ward - Friday, Mar 4, 22 @ 4:04 pm:
Does this mean that we don’t have to hear Alaina talk about it anymore?
- low level - Friday, Mar 4, 22 @ 4:19 pm:
I guess Cheney wants to erase history.
- Huh? - Friday, Mar 4, 22 @ 4:29 pm:
“Cheney wants to erase history”
If there is a push to erase ne’er do wells from the State House, why not go all the way. Search every piece of legislation, committee report/agenda, visitor log, house/senate chamber minutes, etc for the name of the offender and black it out with a magic marker. Have to get every scrap of paper, plaque, electronic file, everything.