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Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker wouldn’t say Monday if Michael Madigan should step down as House Speaker, or even as chairman of the state’s Democratic Party, despite Madigan being named in a sweeping federal corruption probe. […]

Earlier this month, Chicago public radio WBEZ reported Madigan’s name was included in a subpoena sent to the City Club of Chicago. Federal agents also raided the offices of several people associated with Madigan, including a former campaign worker and a former ComEd lobbyist. The FBI also recorded a conversation between Madigan, then-Chicago Ald. Danny Solis, and a businessman and a developer. Madigan was pitching his private law firm’s tax appeal services to the businessman, according to media reports. Madigan has not been charged with a crime.

Asked if Madigan should step down from his leadership positions, Pritzker said he wouldn’t tolerate corruption or deception.

“The kinds of things that we’ve seen that apparently have been now called out and even raids have taken place,” the governor said.

Pritzker said his position on Madigan was different than Sandoval. After the Sandoval raid, Pritzker asked the senator to step down from his committee leadership position.

“[The federal investigators] seem to be directly about transportation,” Pritzker said. “[Sandoval] was chairman of the Transportation Committee. I didn’t ask him to step down from his position as senator, but he should have and did step down as chairman of the transportation committee while we find out the rest of the story.”

Also this summer, prosecutors filed charges against State Sen. Tom Cullerton, D-Villa Park, for allegedly embezzling money from the Teamsters union. Cullerton has pleaded not guilty.

Pritzker also talked about how Cullerton was transferred from heading the Labor Committee to the Veterans Affairs Committee after the indictment. That move allowed Cullerton to keep an extra stipend.

“I’ve been very clear that when there is direct action taken, very specifically, then that is the time in which I’ve been willing to come forward and will always be to call out the kind of corruption that we’re hearing about,” the governor said.

* The Question: What should Gov. Pritzker say about Speaker Madigan?

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 11:03 am

Comments

“Who?”

– MrJM

Comment by @misterjayem Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 11:08 am
“New Governor, who dis?”

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 11:09 am
MrJM beat me to it!

Comment by NIU Grad Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 11:09 am
Pritz has his own Fed cloud hovering above the Gold Coast mansion toilet gate. You know what they say about living in a glass mansion.

Comment by Money bags Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 11:09 am
” I do not get in fights that I cannot win”

Comment by Drake Mallard Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 11:10 am
Madigan set the standard if he indicted resign or get kicked out. If he is the target of a search warrant then out of leadership like Sandoval.

Comment by David Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 11:15 am
He should say that Madigan deserves the benefit of doubt. Why should Democrats attack one of their own without irrefutable proof when Republicans are vigorously defending Trump (maybe not all or most Illinois Republicans)?

What happens with the president and arguably the most important political office in the world serves as a model, for better or worse.

Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 11:17 am
JB should publicly call on Madigan to step down as party chairman, and he should push behind the scenes to get him to step down altogether. Of course, I thought he should have done both after beating Bruce like a drum and then again after session was over. JB still hasn’t, so I don’t see why he would start now. Makes me think JB views this job as just a stopover on the way to a prez run

Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 11:18 am
===then out of leadership like Sandoval===

Sandoval is still in leadership.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 11:18 am
- @misterjayem -, apologies.

To the Question;

Both Durkin and Madigan set the bar. Indictment.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 11:20 am
As little as possible.

Comment by Al Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 11:20 am
What ever the speaker tells him to do.

Comment by A Voter Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 11:22 am
JB: My credit good enough to buy you out?

MJM: Buy me out?

JB: The state party, the House Dem caucus. The Pritzker Family wants to buy you out.

MJM: The Pritzker Family wants to buy me out? No, I buy you out, you don’t buy me out.

Pritzker: Your caucus loses money, maybe we can do better.

MJM: You think I’m skimmin’ off the top, JB?

JB: You’re unlucky.

MJM: You Democratic Governors really make me laugh. I do you a favor and put your Fair Tax on the ballot when you’re having a bad time, and now you’re gonna try and push me out?

JB: You put the Fair Tax on the ballot because the Pritzker Family bankrolled your caucus, and the SEIU Family guaranteed its passage. Now we’re talking business, let’s talk business.

MJM: Yeah, let’s talk business, JB. First of all, you’re all done. The Pritzker Family don’t even have that kind of muscle anymore. The pension systems are sick, right? You’re getting chased out of Chicago by Lightfoot and the progressive caucus. What do you think is going on here? You think you can come to my House and take over? I talked to Lightfoot - I can make a deal with her, and still keep my Caucus!

JB: I leave for Chicago tomorrow, think about a price.

MJM: Applesauce! Do you know who I am? I’m Mike Madigan! I made my bones when you were going out with cheerleaders!

Cullerton: JB! You do not come to Springfield and talk to a man like Mike Madigan like that!

JB: John, you’re my Senate President, and I love you. But don’t ever take sides with anyone against the Family again. Ever.

Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 11:24 am
Pritxker should say,
“This state has unfortunately been on a dark path for a long time which is becoming more and more clear to everybody-including me. I sought the governorship of Illinois to get it back on track. And I intend to do so. Fair warning. Let the chips fall where they may.”

Comment by Responsa Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 11:25 am
Some people have been so itchingly desperate to see MJM leave they can’t hardly see straight. Take a breath already and try to be more objective.

Comment by DIstant watcher Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 11:27 am
Nothing. You shouldn’t speak on things out of your league.

Comment by YourMove Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 11:30 am
Gov JB should say, “I’ve known the Speaker for twenty years. If he had been accused of any wrong doing, I’m sure our Attorney General would have investigated and gotten to the bottom of it.”

Comment by Unstable Genius Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 11:31 am
47th Ward wins.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 11:32 am
Drake M and GoM are on the right track. It’s good political sense not to challenge power without more information/leverage than are available (at least publicly) and when the outcome is so very unclear. It’s usually better not to try pushing somebody over the cliff if there’s a chance they’ll drive off it themselves. JB gets very little right now by coming out against Madigan, but can lose a great deal. Better to be patient, mutter some generalities, and take advantage of lesser targets of opportunity.

Comment by Flapdoodle Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 11:36 am
=== Some people have been so itchingly desperate to see MJM leave they can’t hardly see straight. Take a breath already and try to be more objective. ===

Bingo. Couldn’t have said it better myself.

Comment by Powdered Whig Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 11:38 am
Wait and see. We don’t know if he’s being investigated yet. “Being named in a sweeping federal corruption probe” makes it seem like he’s a target of the investigation, which, as I said, we literally do not know. The feds may have something, they might not.

Comment by Perrid Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 11:41 am
Nothing. Talk about other issues.

Comment by Amalia Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 11:43 am
JB {as narrator}: Well, it wasn’t long before what I was afraid was going to happen, happened. Madigan managed to get himself named in every investigation in Illinois. And from that moment on I couldn’t be seen with him in Springfield or anywhere near it.

MJM: What the Apple is that supposed to mean? [reads Newspaper] ” …Named in a search warrant . And anything pertaining to *me* in the search … and the Democratic Party can be pushed to comment every time he shows up.” [He waves the Newspaper] Do you believe this?

JB: (Eating a cannoli) Yeah, I believe it. You got outed in a warrant.

MJM: [reads letter again] “Because of unsavory velvet hammer reputation…” [He angrily wads the document and tosses it across the table] Johnny Appleseed. Unsavory… Is there any way around this?

JB: No, there’s no way.

MJM: Let’s say, for instance, I want to go in a restaurant that happens to be right across the street from Springfield City Hall, to get one of those dishes I like?

JB: Forget it. If I’m there? You cannot so much as set foot in the parking lot. That is how serious this is.

MJM: In other words, I’m “Madiganed”.

JB: In so many words, yes.

JB {as narrator}: It just didn’t sink into his head about the narrative going on and what it meant. Not being able to go into Saputo’s is just one thing, but being persona non grata, etched your name into the brains of every Pol and Reporter in the state. But Madigan didn’t care.

MJM: I gotta do somethin’. I gotta do somethin’. They ain’t gettin’ rid of me. They’re not gettin’ rid of me. I’m staying here.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 11:45 am
Hat tip to - 47th Ward -

Well played.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 11:47 am
“Since I got into office I’ve been dying to abandon all hope of passing my legislative agenda to get into a deathmatch with the most powerful politician in the state. That’s gone great for the prior governors.”

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 11:49 am
Nothing. Madigan enabled Pritzker to pass his entire agenda in the first year of his administration. The feds have wiretaps and adequate incentive to prosecute the Speaker if the evidence is there.

Comment by James Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 11:59 am
Nothing.

The Profts of the world play checkers, while Madigan plays 3 dimensional chess well enough to beat Mr. Spock. This question is part of a larger right led campaign to force Madigan from the field as they are too lazy to work as hard, and as smartly, as Madigan does. (Check Oswego Willy ‘ s 06/28/2019 comments here - search on “Cross election 9 holes” … )

Comment by Anyone Remember Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 12:03 pm
“Mumble mumble rush to judgment mumble mumble due process mumble mumble patient mumble mumble confidence in our great system.”

Comment by lake county democrat Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 12:04 pm
Thanks, - Anyone Remember -

Appreciate that.

Be well.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 12:08 pm
He ain’t guilty, he’s my brother.

Comment by City Zen Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 12:13 pm
Anyone rememeber doesnt know what it is writing. Pritzker does most everything MJM asks for. It was the deal he made to get into office. Mr Magoo, the prince and others are about to go down. Your 3D chess player aint as smart as you think.

Comment by Altgelds Ghost Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 12:26 pm
- Altgelds Ghost -

Take a breath.

=== It was the deal he made to get into office.===

Where can I see that confirmed?

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 12:28 pm
“We gotta be smart about this sir. I want to remain your #2″

Comment by A guy Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 12:53 pm
Great post 47th Ward, nice follow-up OW.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 4:31 pm
He should say nothing until there is some evidence of wrong doing.

Comment by Enviro Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 4:53 pm
Bishop is playing Stretch Armstrong with “named”. He’s making that sound more odious and ominous than it is at this point. But that’s his job, according to the people he works for. He’s baiting with nothing on the hook. Come back when you have something actionable, Greg. Innuendo isn’t actionable.

Comment by Take the cannoli Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 5:40 pm
==47th Ward wins==
Hands down, especially with the depiction of Cullerton as Fredo; brilliance.

With respect to the question, if one has a boil on their bottom, the less said about it, the better.

Comment by Stuntman Bob's Brother Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 6:19 pm
Altgelds Ghost
Cross doesn’t play golf on a good weather day?

Comment by Anyone Remember Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 9:02 pm
=== Cross doesn’t play golf on a good weather day?===

Cross plays on Election Day, we all know that.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 9:07 pm