Madigan/McClain verdict react (Updated)
Wednesday, Feb 12, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* A look into the jury’s thought process…
* Rep. Kelly Cassidy…
“That there will be some measure of accountability for the decades of abuse of power and corruption is critically important and will have implications for our state government for generations. Particularly in a moment when our federal government has been subsumed by blatantly corrupt forces, we need our state government to be trustworthy to the public and focused on the will of the people, not self-interest. This verdict will help move us toward that goal.”
* Senate President Harmon…
Illinois Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) issued the following statement regarding the verdict in the trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan.
“The jury’s verdict closes a long, disturbing chapter in Illinois’ history. It’s a stark reminder that corruption, abuse of power and manipulation of public policy for personal gain can never be tolerated. We cannot be effective if people don’t trust us.
Yet, every failure is an opportunity to be better. In recent years, we have worked to restore that trust through balanced budgets, credit rating upgrades, community investments and sweeping, bipartisan ethics reform.
Today’s verdict is a sobering reminder that our work is never finished.
I stand ready to work with my colleagues to continue this fight for the people of Illinois.”
* ILGOP Chair Kathy Salvi…
“Mike Madigan, the long-time leader of the Illinois Democrat Party, now faces accountability from decades of fleecing Illinois’ taxpayers. The Illinois Democrat Party is no stranger to corruption and putting its own interest above the Prairie State but it doesn’t have to be this way. Most Democrat elected officials will pretend today that they condemn Madigan but their history proves otherwise. Make no mistake: nearly every Democrat in Illinois has benefitted from Madigan’s corruption in some way, and they have all been willing to sell their souls for hefty donations and the support of the political machine Madigan built. While we have a long way to go to recover from more than half a century of Madigan’s corruption, today is a great day for the people of Illinois.”
* House Republican Organization…
Following the jury’s decision in Mike Madigan’s Federal bribery trial, the Illinois House Republican Organization released the following statement:
“Today, the jury confirmed what the public has suspected for years – that Mike Madigan built a political machine to favor his friends and enrich himself at the expense of Illinois families. For decades, he used his office to consolidate power, reward allies, and protect a corrupt system that put special interests ahead of taxpayers.
This conviction is a step toward justice, but it is not enough. The culture of corruption in Springfield did not start or end with Mike Madigan. Many members of the General Assembly benefited from his political operation, accepted his money, and enabled his reign. They must be held accountable.
The current members of the Illinois House, accepted nearly $16.5 million in campaign donations from Mike Madigan’s political committees including these members who received at least a half a million dollars each:
Terra Costa Howard - $1,626,379
Katie Stuart - $1,506,320
Suzanne Ness - $1,242,814
Michelle Mussman - $1,117,022
Joyce Mason - $1,063,044
Janet Yang Rohr - $1,030,974
Sue Scherer - $998,479
Fred Crespo - $925,693
Stephanie Kifowit - $727,992
Natalie Manley - $585,067
Harry Benton - $565,393
Maura Hirschauer - $523,469
Jehan Gordon-Booth - $500,441
House Republicans and the Federal Justice System are doing what these members refuse to do: the important work of reforming state government so it works for the people, not the political insiders.
It is time for immediate and sweeping anti-corruption and transparency reforms. House Republicans are ready with draft legislation and the determination to get it done. Democrats in Springfield have blocked those efforts at every turn. Today’s conviction should be a wake up call for the majority party to finally dismantle Madigan’s corrupt machine.”
* House Republicans…
Who: House Republican Leader Tony McCombie (Savanna) Deputy House Republican Leader Ryan Spain (Peoria) and Assistant Leader Patrick Windhorst (Metropolis).
What: In the wake of a partial verdict in which former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan was found guilty on multiple counts of bribery, conspiracy, and wire fraud, House Republicans renew their demand for the General Assembly to take action on ethics reforms to root out corruption and prevent criminal activity by politicians and their cronies.
When: [1.00] PM on Wednesday, February 12, 2025
Where: ZOOM (event will also be featured live on Blueroom Stream and the caucus Facebook page)
This post will be updated.
…Adding…Capitol News Illinois Reporter Ben Szalinski asked Rep. Ann Williams for her reaction…
…Adding… Reform for Illinois, Change Illinois and Common Cause Illinois…
Former House Speaker Michael Madigan has been found guilty on federal corruption charges. It’s an important milestone in establishing accountability for the powerful. But it’s nowhere near enough to restore public trust and strengthen our democracy. Our laws and our politicians enabled Madigan’s decades-long reign, and this verdict just underscores the need for broad, systemic change in Illinois.
The investigations of Madigan and his associates revealed a pattern of behavior aimed at maximizing political control and personal wealth at the expense of the public interest. For too long, Madigan was protected by the walls of power he had built, using money and favors to ensure the loyalty of those around him and exploiting weak ethics rules and a culture that accepted corruption as business as usual.
Springfield lawmakers have the opportunity to turn things around. They took a critical step by finally ousting Madigan when his indictment seemed inevitable, but an ethics task force prompted by mounting scandals never delivered any recommendations, and the ethics package legislators enacted in 2021 was full of loopholes and fell far short of what was needed to deliver real change.
The Legislative Inspector General at the time, Carol Pope, resigned her post in protest, saying the bill showed that “true ethics reform is not a priority” for the statehouse. Governor Pritzker delivered eloquent speeches about rooting out corruption, but despite admitting that he “wanted more”, failed to use his veto power or bully pulpit to meaningfully strengthen the laws.
Both Governor Pritzker and legislators described the 2021 package as a “first step,” with the governor vowing to “push for [more] every single year that I’m in office.” But we haven’t seen any progress on these issues since then.
For years good government groups have been advocating for common sense reforms that are the norm in many other states, including strengthening oversight by empowering the Legislative Inspector General’s office, improving lobbying regulation and revolving door rules, reducing abuse of our campaign finance system, and enforcing conflict of interest rules. A number of these policies would be new only to the legislature, already existing in Illinois’ executive branch and at the local level.
We’re encouraged by lawmakers who have introduced robust reform bills this session, including state Senators Laura Murphy, Julie Morrison, Tony McCombie, and Jil Tracy, and Reps. Kelly Cassidy, Ryan Spain, and Abdelnasser Rashid.
New faces have appeared in Springfield since 2021, and with this verdict, there are new opportunities for change. We hope lawmakers will follow through on their promise to continue this work and begin rebuilding Illinoisans’ faith in their government. Failing to fix our broken system will just leave the door open for the next Madigan, continuing the cycle of corruption, scandal, and mistrust that plagues our state. Illinois deserves better.
…Adding… Rep. Terra Costa Howard…
“It’s been almost five years since I followed my conscience and led the call for Michael J. Madigan to resign as Speaker of the House and Chair of the Democratic Party of Illinois. Today, the jury has spoken, and Madigan stands convicted of corruption.
“At a time when the principles that have guided our government and our country for generations are under attack, I am deeply encouraged that our justice system has delivered this verdict. Corruption and unethical behavior by political leaders cannot be allowed to pervert our government and undermine the people’s trust. Today, the people won.”
…Adding… Mike McClain…
…Adding… House Speaker Chris Welch…
“I have always believed that a court of law was the place for this to all be sorted out. Today’s outcome leaves me with great appreciation and respect for our legal system. Investigators, prosecutors, and a jury of Illinoisans did their job.”
“House Democrats have been focused on delivering for working people, rebuilding Illinois’ fiscal house, and prioritizing our shared values to combat the divisive tactics coming from Washington—and only through new leadership and a new vision of how the People’s House can operate would that work be possible. House Democrats will continue to do our job and deliver for the people.”
…Adding… House GOP Leader McCombie…
House Minority Leader Tony McCombie issued the following statement in response to the partial guilty verdict in the federal corruption trial of former House Speaker Michael Madigan today:
“House Republicans remain determined in demanding meaningful reform to restore trust in our government and serve the interests of Illinois families. Today’s federal court verdict convicting Mike Madigan, the former Speaker of the House whose 40-year reign casts a long shadow over Illinois politics, on 10 counts of bribery, conspiracy, and wire fraud underscores the urgent need for action.
“Unfortunately, Democrats in Springfield have repeatedly failed to take ethics legislation seriously, even after the resignation of the Legislative Inspector General, which should have been a wake-up call for change. Instead of seizing the opportunity to implement real oversight and accountability, the majority party has allowed the status quo of corruption and insider politics to persist.
“House Republicans are committed to fighting for robust reforms that prioritize the needs of Illinois families over political self-interest. It’s time to end the culture of corruption and deliver the honest, transparent government our state deserves.”
…Adding… Senate Republican Leader John Curran…
“The jury has spoken, and the deeply entrenched culture of corruption that has dictated public policy at the expense of Illinois taxpayers must be addressed. Accountability and transparency in public policy decisions are non-negotiable and reforming the legislative process must be a top priority in this legislative session. We will continue to advocate for our aggressive ethics reform proposals to help restore trust with the People of Illinois.”
…Adding… Governor JB Pritzker…
Trust in public officials is something that’s hard earned. Public service ought to be a high calling for honest people with integrity. And those who violate the public’s trust must be held accountable if confidence in the system is to be restored.
The Madigan verdict by a jury of everyday Illinoisans is an important message to anyone in government — or those thinking about public service — that if you choose corruption you will be found out, and you will be punished.
This week has been a vital reminder that we must maintain our vigilance in cleaning up government and always put the people we serve first.
…Adding… Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton…
Michael Madigan exploited his role to advance his personal and political agenda at the direct expense of the very people he was sworn to serve.
Illinoisans deserve leaders who demonstrate integrity, and this outcome should serve as a reminder that, despite what the current news cycle suggests, those who betray the public trust will be held accountable.
…Adding… US Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi…
“For too long, our state has been marked by scandal, corruption, and self-serving politicians who will do anything for power. It’s a new day in Illinois, and we won’t go back to the days of Blagojevich or Madigan. Public service is about just that — serving the people, which is why I am fighting to increase oversight on politicians, root out corruption, and ensure that government works for the people.”
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* You can click here and here to follow the Madigan trial on Twitter and Bluesky. Sun-Times reporter Jon Seidel…
This post will be updated.
…Adding… Jason Meisner from the Tribune…
…Adding… More from Meisner…
…Adding… Judge Blakey is discussing whether to tell jurors they are allowed to reach a partial verdict…
…Adding… Update…
…Adding… An interesting thought from Meisner…
…Adding… While we wait, click here for a cheat sheet on the charges against Madigan and McClain.
…Adding… Judge Blakey talks logistics…
* Judge Blakey is about to bring in the jury…
…Adding…
* The Sun-Times has an updated live list of counts and verdicts on each one. Click here.
…Adding… Madigan has been found guilty of a bribery conspiracy, bribery and wire fraud…
…Adding…
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Isabel’s afternoon roundup (Updated)
Tuesday, Feb 11, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller
…Adding.. Madigan trial update…
* Click here for some background. WTTW…
Mayor Brandon Johnson is subject to the city’s ethics ordinance and prohibited from accepting most gifts worth more than $50, the Chicago Board of Ethics announced Monday.
No longer will gifts accepted by Chicago’s mayor on behalf of the city be covered by an “unwritten arrangement” dating back to the late 1980s during the administration of former Mayor Eugene Sawyer, Board President William Conlon said during a meeting Monday.
“Any informal agreement made years ago is over and revoked,” Conlon said. “The board expects compliance with the ordinance.”
Under the informal arrangement, gifts accepted by the mayor were supposed to be logged in a book that would be available for public viewing, while the items themselves were stored in the mayor’s suite of offices on City Hall’s fifth floor.
* State Fair update!…
The Turnpike Troubadours have also been added to the grandstand lineup.
*** Statehouse News ***
* Sen. Chapin Rose | Time for UI to stop short-sheeting its flagship campus: “Even after spotting the UI’s Chicago campus its special taxpayer add-ons for the hospital that it manages, under President (Tim) Killeen’s general operations allocations, the students of the Urbana campus end up effectively subsidizing the UIC campus.”
* SJ-R | New bill seeks more thorough review of officer candidates’ past employment: State Senator Doris Turner, D-Springfield, has introduced two measures in response to the fatal shooting of Sonya Massey in an unincorporated neighborhood of Springfield last July. Senate Bill 1953 would require law enforcement agencies to conduct a more comprehensive review of a prospective officer’s past employment to ensure that candidate is physically and psychologically fit for duty. The proposed legislation would include the creation of sheriff’s merit boards and sheriff’s merit commissions for counties with a population of at least 75,000.
* Crain’s | Illinois Realtors unveils legislative agenda aimed at easing housing shortage: “The biggest pain point for consumers right now is housing affordability, housing options,” said Tommy Choi, president of Illinois Realtors, the statewide association. Choi is also co-owner of the Keller Williams OneChicago brokerage. “It’s super important to focus on solutions that can help,” he said. In the past two weeks, state legislators have introduced five bills they wrote in collaboration with Illinois Realtors, all intended to reduce obstacles to building, buying and renting housing. They include proposals that would allow construction of multi-unit homes on many lots now reserved for single houses, get rid of bans on accessory dwelling units and hold the line on impact fees homebuilders pay to municipalities.
*** Statewide ***
* WAND | ‘Illinois Grown’ program to spotlight locally produced foods, products: “The Illinois Grown initiative is not just about food – it’s about supporting local communities,” said IDOA Director Jerry Costello II. “Consumers who buy Illinois Grown products can feel good knowing their money is going directly to Illinois farmers and producers.” Consumers who pledge to spend at least $10 of their weekly grocery budget on Illinois Grown items can sign up to receive a free shopping bag or sticker.
*** Chicago ***
* Sun-Times | Johnson warns of City Hall housecleaning triggered by disloyalty: ‘If you ain’t with us, you gotta go.’: Mayor Brandon Johnson says he should have “cleaned house faster” when he took office and now plans to correct that mistake by sending people packing. “If you ain’t with us, you just gotta go,” the mayor said. Johnson ominous warning that heads are about to roll before the mid-term benchmark came during an appearance Monday night at New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church, 754 E. 77th St. It was the first in a series of appearances the mayor’s office is calling Johnson’s “Faith in Government” initiative.
* Block Club | Heartland Alliance Health Shutting Down Clinics And Food Pantries, Affecting Thousands In Need: The clinics at 4009 N. Broadway and 5501 S. Halsted St. are no longer taking new appointments for patients and are directing people to other federally qualified health centers or clinics, according to Heartland’s website. After Block Club Chicago reached out, the nonprofit announced its closure on its website. There are 113 staff members at Heartland Alliance Health who will lose their jobs as a result of the organization shutting down, 50 of whom are in the union, Brieschke said. Between the low-cost clinics and the food pantries, the organization serves about 8,000 people a year, he said.
* Block Club | Cabrini-Green Lot Vacant For 50 Years Closer To Being Redeveloped With Mixed-Income Apartments: The Committee on Finance approved $14 million in tax-increment financing (TIF) funds for a $52.9 million mixed-income housing development at 547 W. Oak St., a vacant lot owned by the Chicago Housing Authority. City officials approved the project in 2021. Last spring, the Community Development Commission authorized the $14 million in TIF funding, but it still required the City Council’s approval. With Monday’s committee vote, the funding now heads to the full City Council for a final decision next week.
* Block Club | Chicago To See ‘Biggest Snow System’ So Far This Winter, With 3-6 Inches Expected Wednesday: By the end of it, there could be between three to six inches on the ground, a “pretty good bed,” said Gino Izzi, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. […] It’ll start snowing lightly Wednesday morning — with a period of heavy snow in the afternoon, according to Izzi.
*** Cook County and Suburbs ***
* Tribune | Cook County prosecutors seek to unionize in first major drive in decades: In the first major union drive to reach the office in decades, a group of assistant Cook County state’s attorneys have asked the office to voluntarily recognize a bargaining unit that would represent hundreds of lawyers working for the country’s second-largest prosecutor’s office. A majority of Cook County assistant state’s attorneys in the proposed bargaining unit have signed union authorization cards with Teamsters Local 700, according to a letter sent Monday to State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke. Teamsters representatives declined to say what percentage of attorneys signed cards.
* Naperville Sun | DuPage County Board votes to strip US Rep. Henry Hyde’s name from courthouse: The DuPage County Board voted 10-5 at its Tuesday meeting to remove the Republican congressman’s name from the building and related offices in Wheaton. While Democrats and Republicans voted along party lines on the issue, Democrats Lynn LaPlante and Lucy Chang Evans abstained from the vote and expressed disappointment that the matter was raised. […] “Here in DuPage County, public buildings serve all people, regardless of race, gender, faith or … economic status,” board Chair Deb Conroy, a Democrat from Elmhurst, said ahead the vote. “This resolution reinforces the notion that the buildings on this campus support the rights of all people to receive the services they need. … I believe our actions should reflect our values.”
* Daily Southtown | Oak Forest group, Midlothian library team up to fight ‘bedlessness’: Dave King and Ed Copher were looking in 2018 for a way to make a difference in their community and found while there were agencies devoted to fighting homelessness, there weren’t as many resources available to help people turn housing into homes. “I didn’t realize there was a need but the more I learned, the more I realized “bedlessness” is not a real word but is a problem in almost every single city across America,” said King.
*** Downstate ***
* WAND | Pres. Lincoln’s bank ledger arrives in Springfield for display: Abraham Lincoln had to eat, sleep and put money in the bank just like everyone else. Now you can see the transactions and bank movements he made throughout his life in Illinois. […] The treasurers office used to be a JPMorganChase bank, who originally held the former presidents ledger on display. When the bank firm sold the building to the state for $10, they took the original copy with them and now display it at their New York City headquarters.
* SJ-R | Here are the 10 most dangerous intersections in Springfield: When agencies look to invest in roadway safety, they analyze factors like the number of crashes, fatalities, injuries, and property damage, as well as the speed of a given roadway, said City of Springfield Traffic Engineer T.J. Heavisides. Heavisides said the city is aware that these intersections are seeing a high number of crashes. Safety funds have been awarded specifically for the intersections of MacArthur and Lawrence, and for South Grand and MLK. Consultants are working on designs to improve those intersections, he said.
* WCIA | ‘Change is long overdue’: Urbana Police Chief calls for end to gun violence in the community: In a letter addressed to the Urbana community Tuesday morning, Chief Larry Boone said that for months, the police department has collected data, spoken out and urged action to prevent firearm related deaths. But, despite their efforts, Boone said they were met with “skepticism and accusations.”
* SJ-R | Restaurant selling ‘Illinois Hot Chicken’ is opening first Springfield location: Pop-Up Chicken Shop, a Bloomington-based fried chicken restaurant known for its “Illinois Hot Chicken”, announced the restaurant is opening its first Springfield location in May. […] The menu ranges from chicken sandwiches to wings and whole buckets. The menu also offers the classic Springfield horseshoe sandwich with dill pickle fries, smoked gouda chipotle cheese and two chicken tenders atop Texas toast.
* WSIL | Cats of Carbondale hosts Valentine’s Day event to fix cats: Organizers say people can donate $30; a cat getting spayed or neutered will be named after its ex. Cats of Carbondale says the reason is that “some people (and cats!) just shouldn’t reproduce.”
*** National ***
* Rolling Stone | Alabama Shakes map out summer reunion tour: “This band and these songs have been such a source of joy for all of us. It is crazy that it has been 10 years since we released Sound and Color and eight years since we played a show. But, we didn’t want this to entirely be a look back. We wanted it to be as much about the future as the past. So we have a bunch of new music that will be released soon. We just can’t wait to experience that ‘feeling’ when we start playing those first few notes of ‘Don’t Wanna Fight’ or ‘Gimme All Your Love.’”
* Crain’s | Judge orders Walgreens to pay nearly $1 billion in COVID test case: Under their contract, Walgreens used PWNHealth’s physician network to order COVID-19 tests requested from Walgreens’ website during the pandemic. But in 2022, PWNHealth initiated an arbitration with the American Arbitration Association, alleging that Walgreens breached the exclusive agreement when it used medical professionals outside the contract to order COVID tests.
* Semafor | Fake, viral conspiracies on X stump politicians, media: Shawn Ryan built one of the country’s most popular podcasts, interviewed US President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance, and attracted more than a million followers on X. It was there, on Monday morning, where he shared a conspiracy theory about the governor of Pennsylvania with one piece of commentary: “Wow.” That theory implicated Gov. Josh Shapiro — with no evidence — in the July 13, 2024 assassination attempt on Trump. Nonetheless, it went on an amazing journey — from a pro se litigant who posted TikTok videos about her multiple anti-Shapiro complaints, to a Facebook page that posts about explosive crime stories, to millions of shares on Elon Musk’s microblogging site. It got enough traction on Monday for Dan Bongino to urge his conservative radio audience to “hold on this” and be skeptical unless his sources could verify it.
* WaPo | Kendrick Lamar’s performance was as Black and subversive as all get-out: Jackson as Uncle Sam was brilliant. Back in 2012, he played the role of a house slave, Stephen, in Quentin Tarantino’s “Django Unchained,” who protects his master at all costs and tries to thwart the uprisings against the White masters led by the character Django. During the Super Bowl performance, his Uncle Sam chides Lamar for being too Black, “too ghetto,” and asks him to tone things down — trying to dictate the boundaries for Blackness in White spaces.
* Latin Times | American Bar Association Condemns Trump Admin’s ‘Attacks’ on Constitution and Rule of Law: ‘This is Chaotic’: In a statement released Monday, ABA President William R. Bay said the administration is undermining the rule of law in ways that “most Americans recognize as wrong.” “Instead, we see wide-scale affronts to the rule of law itself, such as attacks on constitutionally protected birthright citizenship, the dismantling of USAID, and the attempts to criminalize those who support lawful programs to eliminate bias and enhance diversity,” Bay said.
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* We talked about this a bit last night as related to a different reporter, but the goofy topic keeps coming back. There is just so much wrong with today’s Politico story, but let’s look at this part…
About reentering politics: Blagojevich also declined to comment on whether he might run for office again. Illinois law forbids him to run for state or local office — but that was before the pardon wiped away his criminal record. Elections officials are studying the law. There’s nothing stopping Blagojevich from running for federal office, however.
Nobody has to study the law. I’d really like to know who claimed that was being done - if anyone.
The law is super clear. The pardon changes nothing. Presidential pardons do not extend to state law, and states can remove a constitutional officer and ban that person from running again. To suggest otherwise ignores, well, pretty much all of American history.
* As I reminded y’all last night, we just had a ruling last year on this very matter. From United States District Judge Steven C. Seeger’s 2024 ruling…
The simple reality is that federal courts have no role to play when it comes to a state impeachment. The state legislature decided to remove Blagojevich from public life, and it is not the place of a federal court to bring him back.
Exactly right.
From the Illinois Constitution…
The House of Representatives has the sole power to conduct legislative investigations to determine the existence of cause for impeachment and, by the vote of a majority of the members elected, to impeach Executive and Judicial officers. Impeachments shall be tried by the Senate. When sitting for that purpose, Senators shall be upon oath, or affirmation, to do justice according to law. If the Governor is tried, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall preside. No person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two-thirds of the Senators elected. Judgment shall not extend beyond removal from office and disqualification to hold any public office of this State. An impeached officer, whether convicted or acquitted, shall be liable to prosecution, trial, judgment and punishment according to law.
* Back to the judge’s ruling…
For starters, Blagojevich cannot sue the State of Illinois under section 1983. That statute authorizes a claim against a “person” for violating federal rights. See 42 U.S.C. § 1983. But a state is not a “person,” as the Supreme Court explained decades ago. … The same conclusion applies to the Illinois General Assembly. The legislature isn’t a “person,” either. An “arm or instrumentality of the State” cannot be sued under section 1983. […]
Even if Blagojevich could get his foot in the door, he wouldn’t get very far before hitting his head on the constitutional architecture. The structure of the Constitution stands in his way, horizontally and vertically.
From a horizontal perspective, the separation of powers prevents a court from interfering with the business of the legislative branch when it comes to impeachments. From a vertical perspective, federalism prevents a federal court from interfering with the internal affairs of the state legislature.
* We could easily stop there, but let’s keep going anyway…
The Constitution vests the “Power” over impeachment in the legislative branch. It does not take much interpretative detective work to figure out that the judiciary has no seat at the table. Congress has the “Power,” and the judiciary has none. […]
Some states do allow some degree of judicial review of state impeachment proceedings, creating a limited window of opportunity as opposed to the closed door in the federal system. … Blagojevich has given this Court no reason to think that Illinois would be one of the states to allow judicial review. There isn’t a lot of case law in Illinois. In fact, there isn’t any case law. And for good reason. In its 205-year history, the Illinois General Assembly has impeached, convicted, and removed one public official: Blagojevich. […]
Blagojevich isn’t asking this Court to second-guess a federal impeachment. Blagojevich is inviting this Court to get involved in a state impeachment. If intervention by a federal court in a federal impeachment is bad, then intervention by a federal court in a state impeachment is worse. […]
Another jurisdictional issue lurks in the background. In essence, Blagojevich is asking this Court to exercise appellate jurisdiction over a state proceeding. By analogy, under the Rooker-Feldman doctrine, “state-court losers” cannot run to federal court to undo what happened in state court. […]
Standing issues loom large, too. Blagojevich seeks to protect the right of voters to cast ballots for him. But a plaintiff generally lacks standing to assert the rights of others. […]
The case might not be ripe, either. Blagojevich didn’t exactly file his complaint at the federal courthouse in the dead of night. He took the unusual step of calling a press conference to let the world know that he was filing a complaint. […]
An impeachment proceeding is not a criminal prosecution. After all, Blagojevich didn’t go to federal prison because of what happened in the Illinois legislature. Blagojevich went to federal prison because of what happened in the federal courthouse. Impeachment didn’t lead to prison time. The Illinois General Assembly took away his job, not his liberty. […]
The complaint also invokes the right to due process under the Fourteenth Amendment. But scholars have questioned whether there is a right to due process at all in an impeachment proceeding, let alone a judicially enforceable right to due process. … Again, the legislature has the power to create its own rules and afford as many procedural protections as it sees fit.
Blagojevich refused to testify in his own defense, instead making a lame speech at the end of his Senate trial.
Also, he was removed and barred from office long before he was convicted of anything. The federal conviction had no bearing on the impeachment.
…Adding… Good point from Hannah…
…Adding… Just unreal…
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* Reuters…
The U.S. Department of Justice sued Illinois and the city of Chicago on Thursday, accusing them of impeding the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policies and seeking a court order sweeping aside so-called sanctuary laws.
Citing a national emergency declared by President Donald Trump on Inauguration Day, the Department of Justice is seeking to block the enforcement of several state and local laws that “interfere with and discriminate against” the federal government’s enforcement of federal immigration law.
The complaint was filed in Chicago federal court. […]
Newly installed U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a memo on Wednesday that said sanctuary jurisdictions should not receive federal Justice Department grants and the department should take actions against jurisdictions that impede immigration enforcement.
Click here to read Bondi’s memorandum.
* From the complaint…
The United States brings this declaratory and injunctive action to prohibit the State of Illinois and its subdivisions from enforcing several state and local laws—namely, the Way Forward Act, TRUST Act, Welcoming City Act, and Cook County, Ill. Ordinance 11-O- 73—that are designed to and in fact interfere with and discriminate against the Federal Government’s enforcement of federal immigration law in violation of the Supremacy Clause of the United States Constitution. […]
Both the Governor of Illinois JB Pritzker and Mayor of Chicago Brandon Johnson, sued here in their official capacities, profess a shared interest with the Federal Government in enforcing immigration laws to effectuate the removal of such offenders from the United States. Last week on CNN, Governor Pritzker proclaimed: “Well let me start by being clear that when we’re talking about violent criminals who’ve been convicted and who are undocumented, we don’t want them in our state. We want them out of the country. We hope they do get deported. And if that’s who they’re picking up, we’re all for it.” https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/26/politics/video/sotu-pritzker-on-planned-chicago-immigration-raids. Illinois laws, however, provide otherwise. […]
The Illinois Way Forward Act and TRUST Act both impede the Federal Government’s ability to regulate immigration and take enforcement actions against illegal aliens by preventing state law enforcement officials from assisting with federal civil immigration enforcement. Under these laws, state officers are explicitly prohibited from complying with immigration detainers or civil immigration warrants; they are also prevented from entering into agreements to detain noncItizens for federal civil immigration violations. […]
By refusing to honor civil detainers and warrants expressly authorized by Congress, Defendants have unlawfully eliminated these means for federal immigrations officials to carry out their statutory functions.
* The DOJ sued Chicago in 2017 over its sanctuary city status. National Immigrant Justice Center…
The National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) welcomes today’s federal court ruling that the U.S. Attorney General’s threat to withhold law enforcement funding from sanctuary cities has no basis in law.
The decision from the Northern District Court of Illinois, written by Reagan appointee Judge Harry D. Leinenweber, is another significant federal ruling blocking the administration’s anti-immigrant agenda.
The City of Chicago sued the U.S. Department of Justice last month after Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced he would cut federal Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program funding to cities and states that refuse to honor immigration detainers or have their local police act as immigration agents. The court found these conditions to be unlawful. At issue was Chicago’s 2012 Welcoming City Ordinance, which forbids the city’s police from inquiring about immigration status or detaining individuals for immigration purposes.
“Today’s ruling creates a critical roadblock to the administration’s persistent drive to enlist our local police in federal immigration enforcement,” said NIJC Associate Director of Litigation Mark Fleming. “As the City of Chicago has long recognized, and as our communities and elected officials acknowledged last month as Governor Rauner signed the TRUST Act into law, removing the fear that any interaction with the police could result in deportation is important to public safety and critical in building trust between communities and the police; that is what sanctuary city policies are all about.”
This post will likely be updated.
…Adding… From Gov. Pritzker…
Statement from the Illinois Governor’s Office:
“Unlike Donald Trump, Illinois follows the law. The bipartisan Illinois TRUST Act, signed into law by a Republican governor, has always been compliant with federal law and still is today. Illinois will defend our laws that prioritize police resources for fighting crime while enabling state law enforcement to assist with arresting violent criminals. Instead of working with us to support law enforcement, the Trump Administration is making it more difficult to protect the public, just like they did when Trump pardoned the convicted January 6 violent criminals. We look forward to seeing them in court.”
Noting some recent comments directly from Gov. Pritzker too:
• January 28 Press Conference: “We can make sure that we’re following the law which is what we always do and that the federal government is following the law. That’s most of what we can do. We’ve passed laws in Illinois to protect people and we’ll continue to focus on taking action where they’re most threatened.”
• January 24 Press Conference: “We’re all having discussions across all the agencies of state government to make sure that we’re communicating. It’s Know Your Rights, making sure that people know what they should do if an agent shows up and asks them for proof of citizenship or proof of residency. Everybody is looking to follow the law and make sure that families are safe in the process. The federal government is not communicating with state government or local governments about what they’re doing, how they’re doing it, and so we don’t know exactly how to either assist the parents in dealing with it or assist the federal government in the work that they’re doing that is legally constitutional. It’s a challenge. But what we’re communicating with all of our agencies and making sure that, again, know your rights is really what we’re trying to communicate to all the parents and all the organizations across the state.”
…Adding… Sun-Times with more react…
At a Loop news conference, Preckwinkle said “we’ll defend ourselves and hope for success in the court system… We’re gonna fight back. We will pursue every legal opportunity to defend the programs that we believe in and defend our values.”
A spokesperson for the city Law Department said they were reviewing the suit. Johnson has pledged to maintain the city’s sanctuary policies.
The lawsuit also named Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling and Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart as defendants. CPD officials declined to comment. Dart’s office couldn’t immediately be reached.
…Adding… Leader Curran…
Illinois Senate Republican Leader John Curran (R-Downers Grove) released the following statement in response to The United States Department of Justice filing suit against the State of Illinois and City of Chicago for impeding federal immigration enforcement:
“By continuing to obstruct federal immigration authorities from apprehending dangerous criminals being harbored in Illinois illegally, Gov. Pritzker and Mayor Johnson are putting both law enforcement and Illinoisans at risk. For years, the Democratic Majority has ignored multiple pieces of legislation brought forth by Illinois Republicans to repeal the Trust Act and allow state and local authorities to communicate with federal immigration enforcement agencies. Their continued refusal to put the safety of Illinois citizens before their own personal political agendas has now forced the federal government to intervene to keep Americans safe. I strongly encourage the Governor, Mayor of Chicago, and Democratic legislative leaders to quit impeding law enforcement’s ability to cooperate and assist federal authorities with removing violent criminals who are here in Illinois illegally, and immediately call our repeal of the Trust Act for a vote.”
…Adding… Attorney General Kwame Raoul…
“The 10th Amendment to the Constitution preserves Illinois’ right to decide how we use our law enforcement resources. This includes opting out of federal attempts to commandeer those state law enforcement resources to perform the federal government’s job on civil immigration enforcement. The TRUST Act reflects Illinois’ constitutionally-protected choice. We have successfully defended the TRUST Act in federal court before, and we look forward to vigorously defending the law again.”
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It’s just a bill (Updated)
Thursday, Feb 6, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* HB2827 from Reps. Terra Costa Howard and Michelle Mussman…
Creates the Homeschool Act. Requires the State Board of Education to create a Homeschool Declaration Form to be used by a homeschool administrator to submit information indicating that a child is enrolled in a homeschool program to the principal of the public school or to the school district that the homeschooled child would otherwise attend. Provides that a student enrolled in a homeschool program in which the homeschool administrator has not notified the public school or school district with the Homeschool Declaration Form is considered truant, with penalties applying. Provides that if a child in a homeschool program seeks to enroll part time in a public school or participate in any public school activities taking place on or off of school grounds, the homeschool administrator must submit proof that the child has received all required immunizations and health examinations or a signed Certificate of Religious Exemption. Sets forth requirements for homeschool administrators and programs and reporting requirements. Makes conforming and other changes in the Freedom of Information Act, the School Code, and the Illinois School Student Records Act, including requiring (rather than allowing) nonpublic schools to register with the State Board of Education.
Last year, ProPublica and Capitol News Illinois published a series of stories examining Illinois’ “hands-off” approach to homeschooling.
* Rep. Anne Stava-Murray filed HB1589 last month…
Amends the Trustees Article of the Illinois Local Library Act. Provides that a candidate for the position of library trustee must have a valid library card for the library.
* Sen. Mike Porfirio…
State Senator Mike Porfirio is backing House Bill 2723, introduced by State Representative Abdelnasser Rashid, which would lift state pension investment restrictions placed on companies engaged in boycotts of Israel. Porfirio plans to file a bill in the Illinois Senate with identical language this week.
“Public pension funds should prioritize fiscal responsibility,” said Porfirio (D- Lyons Township).
In Illinois, public pensions are managed through administered retirement systems. The systems invest funds into assets such as stocks, bonds and real estate, and in return, guarantee annual benefits to employees once they retire.
Current law prevents the Illinois Investment Policy Board from investing public pension funds in companies that intentionally engaged in boycotts of Israel. House Bill 2723 would lift this restriction, allowing the state to invest in companies solely based on financial standards.
House Bill 2723 awaits committee assignment in the Illinois House of Representatives. The bill introduced by Porfirio will await assignment once filed.
* WGN…
Illinois’ neighbor to the north is well-known for its prodigious alcohol consumption.
There’s a reason why “Drink Wisconsinbly” has become a popular Badger State slogan.
A bill now up for consideration in the Illinois General Assembly proposes to put Illinois on the same footing as Wisconsin in at least one drinking measure.
The bill, introduced by State Rep. John Cabello (R-Machesney Park), would amend the Liquor Control Act of 1934 to allow 18- to 20-years-olds to drink alcohol at bars and restaurants in Illinois, so long as a parent or guardian is present.
* WICS…
On February 5, a coalition of Illinois leaders, advocates, and community members gathered at the Illinois State Capitol Building Rotunda to rally support for the Clean Slate Bill.
This legislation aims to modernize the state’s record-sealing system by replacing the outdated petition-based model with an automated system. The bill seeks to remove barriers for over 1.5 million Illinoisans with old criminal records, fostering economic stability across the state.
According to the Paper Prisons Initiative, an estimated 73% of people in Illinois with an arrest or conviction record are eligible to have their records sealed under the current petition-based process. This represents 2.2 million Illinoisans who have met the requirements for a second chance but continue to be denied employment, housing, and other opportunities because of a past record. […]
In addition to economic benefits, the bill aims to promote public safety by removing barriers to meaningful employment, housing, and other opportunities. Donnell Williams, a member leader at the Workers Center for Racial Justice, called for action, saying, “We don’t want another task force to talk about the causes of recidivism. We don’t want another think tank to talk about the barriers to re-entry. We don’t want a seat at the table, we want to help build the table for our own resources that our community needs. We need automatic expungement now! We need good jobs now!”
* Rep. Maura Hirschauer filed HB2934 yesterday…
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that, on and after October 1, 2025, the default speed limit is [25] (instead of 30) miles per hour within an urban district, and 10 (instead of 15) miles per hour in an alley within an urban district. Requires, by September 1, 2025, the Secretary of State to communicate the speed limit change to every licensed driver in the State via direct postal mail and a broad statewide communications campaign. Provides that a county, municipality, or township with speed enforcement authority may only issue warnings for violations during the first 60 days after the change of the speed limit is enacted. Effective immediately.
…Adding… A small note on Rep. Hirschauer’s bill: The synopsis contained a typo, stating 20 mph instead of 25 mph. I’ve corrected it to match the bill’s language.
…Adding… Rep. Bob Morgan…
Illinois State Representative Bob Morgan (D-Deerfield) has introduced HB 2969, the ‘Balanced Earnings And Record Standards & Stadium Oversight Expectations Act,’ also known as ‘The BEARS Act.’ This legislation is designed to establish a merit-based framework for determining when tax dollars can be used for public funding of sports stadiums, based on the performance of the teams.
“Our primary goal with this bill is not to punish teams, but to ensure that Illinois taxpayers’ dollars are spent responsibly. No one wants to see taxpayer dollars wasted by billionaire team owners that are not investing in their teams’ competitiveness,” Representative Morgan said. “As families across Illinois are tightening their belts due to the rising cost of living, we must be careful with how we spend limited public dollars, especially when it comes to billion-dollar franchises. Illinois should be committed to ensuring that public investments are directed to Illinois residents, and then to teams that, at the very least, are performing at a competitive level.”
The ‘BEARS Act’ requires professional sports teams to achieve a .500 record or above in at least three out of five regular seasons in order to qualify for public financing for stadium construction, renovation, or maintenance. If a team’s record drops below .500, they will be ineligible for future funding until they demonstrate improved performance over three out of five seasons.
The legislation aims to ensure that taxpayer funds are only allocated to teams that demonstrate a basic level of competitiveness. “This isn’t about perfection; it’s about making sure that the teams we invest in have a realistic chance of being successful and bringing value back to the community,” Morgan added.
Public funding for sports stadiums often proves a poor return on investment. While proponents claim it boosts local economies, many studies show that the benefits are often overstated. The jobs created are typically low-wage and temporary, and the economic impact rarely offsets the massive public subsidies. In many cases, teams and stadium owners capture most of the profits, leaving taxpayers to cover construction, maintenance, and potential projected revenue shortfalls. This raises concerns about whether such investments truly benefit the public.
“While Illinois enters an unprecedented time, with state funding under constant threat from the Trump administration, Illinois must be vigilant with every cent spent. While I don’t support using taxpayer dollars for stadiums, this framework ensures that, if funds are spent, they go to teams offering the best return on investment,” concluded Representative Morgan.
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