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“This guy’s trying to destroy your soul”

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Illinois

* The Tribune obtained depositions taken during the federal lawsuit filed against Speaker Madigan and his political organization by his 2016 Democratic primary opponent Jason Gonzales. You really need to read the whole thing…

The 76-year-old speaker used the phrases “I don’t recall,” “I don’t remember,” “I don’t know” and “I have no memory” more than 100 times during a five-hour deposition that he said was the first he’d ever given.

* For instance…

Peraica then asked Madigan whether he had reached out to any political allies to try to load up the ballot with candidates.

“I don’t remember that,” Madigan said.

“Is it possible that you did?” Peraica asked.

“No,” Madigan responded.

“So you’re certain that you didn’t?” Peraica asked.

“I don’t remember,” Madigan said.

* They really got into Gonzales’ head…

During his deposition, Gonzales said the campaign attacks led him to seek help from a psychiatrist, who prescribed medication.

“This guy’s trying to destroy your soul,” Gonzales said of Madigan. “He just doesn’t want to defeat you. He wants to make sure that you never come back again.”

And not just in campaigns, either. Ask Bruce Rauner if he wants to be governor again.

* More…

On Election Day, Madigan won with 65 percent of the vote, while Gonzales had 27 percent, Rodriguez had nearly 6 percent and Barboza 2 percent. […]

“If those candidates weren’t on the ballot,” Gonzales said under oath, “I believe I would have won this election.”

Again, go read the whole thing.

* Related…

* Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan gave his first-ever deposition. Here’s what he said: Madigan also brushed aside a Peraica question on whether he was concerned in the 2016 primary about Gonzales as a challenger, saying he was “concerned with all of the money that Bruce Rauner was going to bring into the election.” “We were going to make sure that the voters in the district knew that Bruce Rauner was on the scene and that he was supporting Jason Gonzales because Bruce Rauner is not a popular person in the 22nd District,” Madigan said.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jan 31, 19 @ 1:09 pm

Comments

==If those candidates weren’t on the ballot,” Gonzales said under oath, “I believe I would have won this election.”==

Not good at math.

Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Thursday, Jan 31, 19 @ 1:16 pm
35 beats 65 donchaknow?

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jan 31, 19 @ 1:17 pm
Maybe he should have ran as a Republican.

Comment by Fixer Thursday, Jan 31, 19 @ 1:18 pm
What’s interesting is Tony Peraica is kind of attempting to make this some sort of civil rights case. But, the real motive here might be to set Mike Madigan up for federal perjury charges. If you can’t beat him at the ballot box, you might be him in court.

Comment by Steve Thursday, Jan 31, 19 @ 1:19 pm
Having given many depositions, it makes me smile to see a lawyer giving one.

Comment by Birdseed Thursday, Jan 31, 19 @ 1:20 pm
“Political Ally”, way too much wiggle room, boooh Tony

Comment by Rutro Thursday, Jan 31, 19 @ 1:24 pm
===“This guy’s trying to destroy your soul,”===

I’ve seen township commissioner races that were just as bad. Welcome to politics. If your political enemies don’t destroy your soul, undoubtedly your allies will. Don’t like it? Don’t run. It’s not a difficult concept.

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Thursday, Jan 31, 19 @ 1:29 pm
@Ducky, just because the world is that way doesn’t mean it should be. Telling people who don’t like it they can go away just enables the bad behavior.

Comment by Perrid Thursday, Jan 31, 19 @ 1:34 pm
I don’t see this guy winning this case, and his math skills are not good, but there’s an awful lot of “I don’t recalls,” too cute by half answers, and activity by Madigan underlings that has no other explanation than to support the underlying theory. It seems that yeah, they did it. It’s the “so what?” that remains to be answered.

Comment by Ron Burgundy Thursday, Jan 31, 19 @ 1:36 pm
The number of “I don’t recall”s by MJM in this deposition still isn’t as much Richie Daley used during his deps.

5 hours is pretty long for a deposition.

Comment by Henry Francis Thursday, Jan 31, 19 @ 1:41 pm
@Perrid

I don’t get what you mean by “bad behavior.” Politics is a rough business. Nice guys typically finish last. No single person is going to change it. And if they did, they would probably be Lenin.

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Thursday, Jan 31, 19 @ 1:41 pm
=== “This guy’s trying to destroy your soul,” ===

I’m dubious of the merits of the lawsuit, but, not withstanding the hyperbole, Madigan does play hardball politics. But he’s not the only one.

Comment by Norseman Thursday, Jan 31, 19 @ 1:46 pm
I love the line potraying him as a passive comitteeman. Thats priceless

Comment by Regular democrat Thursday, Jan 31, 19 @ 1:50 pm
He was going up against arguably the most powerful politico in Illinois, what exactly did he expect? Was Madigan supposed to play nice? That is not the name of the political game. Do us all a favor and go away. Your 15 minutes have been up for a long time.

Comment by Retired Educator Thursday, Jan 31, 19 @ 1:53 pm
Mr Peraica must have been bored, or it’s too cold out to go around taking down yard signs https://abc7chicago.com/archive/7756686/

Comment by VerySmallRocks Thursday, Jan 31, 19 @ 1:59 pm
=This guy is trying to destroy your soul=

Welcome to the big leagues Jason. {Sigh} How much money did Rauner and IPI spend Durkin their “because Madigan” campaign?

Comment by {Sigh} Thursday, Jan 31, 19 @ 2:03 pm
Loved the “ask Rauner if he wants to be Governor again” line..

Comment by NotRich Thursday, Jan 31, 19 @ 2:06 pm
Bruce Rauner wrecked himself with his Madigan Derangement Syndrome. Instead of learning to navigate the political waters and actually working with Madigan to get what he could for Illinois residents, he waged a futile, destructive and dumb war. Rauner could have got additional workers comp reform and who knows what else, if he worked with his opponents.

But that was not Rauner’s intention, clearly, as he derided Democratic reform compromise offers as phony. Rauner got just what he deserved in losing, because he had ill intent. No Madigan bashing could mask the terrible results of his governance.

Comment by Grandson of Man Thursday, Jan 31, 19 @ 2:14 pm
Mr. Gonzales allows himself to be used as a pawn by Messrs Hull and Rauner in an effort to distract Speaker Madigan. But as soon as the political pressure is applied, he needs the care of psychiatrists?

He should have seen a psychiatrist before he decided to run in the first place.

Comment by Colin O'Scopy Thursday, Jan 31, 19 @ 2:24 pm
–5 hours is pretty long for a deposition.–

Federal court. Get up to 7 hours standard by rule.

Comment by Ron Burgundy Thursday, Jan 31, 19 @ 2:34 pm
–On Election Day, Madigan won with 65 percent of the vote, while Gonzales had 27 percent, Rodriguez had nearly 6 percent and Barboza 2 percent. […]

“If those candidates weren’t on the ballot,” Gonzales said under oath, “I believe I would have won this election.”–

His shrink prescribed the good stuff.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jan 31, 19 @ 3:07 pm
I wonder how the Chicago Tribune obtained the depositions.

Comment by Huh? Thursday, Jan 31, 19 @ 3:13 pm
===I wonder how the Chicago Tribune obtained===

Since MJM didn’t give it to them, there was only one other way…

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jan 31, 19 @ 3:26 pm
“This guy’s trying to destroy your soul,” Gonzales said of Madigan. […]

Madigan won with 65 percent of the vote, while Gonzales had 27 percent, Rodriguez had nearly 6 percent and Barboza 2 percent. […]

“If those candidates weren’t on the ballot,” Gonzales said under oath, “I believe I would have won this election.”

de·lu·sion·al adj. characterized by or holding idiosyncratic beliefs or impressions that are contradicted by reality or rational argument.

– MrJM

Comment by @misterjayem Thursday, Jan 31, 19 @ 3:26 pm
I love how the Tribune tries to juice the story up by calling the depositions “secret” — like they obtained a CIA memo or a Mueller grand jury transcript. C’mon, it’s a deposition conducted by Tony Peraica. That is about as secret as shouting through a megaphone on the Michigan Avenue bridge.

Comment by Roman Thursday, Jan 31, 19 @ 3:34 pm
It’s rather funny. That’s why I don’t think anything brought up yesterday regarding Madigan will ever stick. He is far too smart. That’s why I like him.

Comment by AnneBancrupt Thursday, Jan 31, 19 @ 4:05 pm
Didn’t the Sun Times and every paper report this deposition was going to happen a year ago? Not sure how this was a “secret”

https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/brucer-rauner-mike-madigan-larry-dominick-deposition-federal-lawsuit-elections-jason-gonzales-sham-candidates/

Comment by polar bear Thursday, Jan 31, 19 @ 4:07 pm
wordslinger: “the good stuff”…that is memorable

Comment by wondering Thursday, Jan 31, 19 @ 5:11 pm
The end result is relevant, Nixon has no chance of losing the 72 election. Over reaching when it was not necessary is often where you get busted.

There is no secret Madigan uses these tactics. He uses them against his own party which is why none of them speak against him without permission.

Comment by the Patriot Friday, Feb 1, 19 @ 8:45 am