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* I told subscribers to expect this earlier today and the reasons for it…
Hearing from House sources that Rep Luis Arroyo has now officially resigned, and this afternoon’s Special Investigating Committee hearing to expel him from the chamber is officially cancelled.
— Hannah Meisel (@hannahmeisel) November 1, 2019
*** UPDATE 1 *** Press release…
House Speaker Michael J. Madigan released the following statement Friday:
“Representative Arroyo’s resignation shouldn’t distract from the fact that the allegations contained in this criminal complaint go beyond anything that could be considered a lapse of judgment or minor indiscretion. These allegations are beyond extraordinary, which is why it called for the creation of the Special Investigative Committee and possible disciplinary action. While every circumstance will not require this process, the egregiousness of these particular allegations and the evidence demanded that every effort be taken to restore the public’s trust. Although the disciplinary process will no longer proceed, there is still a focus on strengthening our laws to prevent this unacceptable conduct. I look forward to working with the governor and other legislative leaders to look for ways in which we can continue to improve the safeguards we have today.”
*** UPDATE 2 *** Here’s the resignation letter. Click the pic for a better version if need be…
Man, is that ever self-serving. I’m betting lots of his colleagues would have loved to vote to expel him as they gear up for reelection.
*** UPDATE 3 *** Press release…
State Representative Tom Demmer (R-Dixon) released the following statement in response to the resignation of State Rep. Luis Arroyo:
“The criminal complaint against Rep. Arroyo has shaken any trust the public had left in the General Assembly. In an effort to begin restoring public confidence, Senator Terry Link needs to step down immediately from his position on the Legislative Ethics Commission while this widespread federal investigation continues.”
*** UPDATE 4 *** Press release…
The Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus released the following statement responding to state Rep. Luis Arroyo’s resignation:
“The Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus holds at our core the values of integrity, transparency, and ethics. We condemn any lawmaker who goes against those values and violates the public trust. As a caucus, we’ll continue to champion those values and ensure the necessary changes are implemented to safeguard the legislative process and restore public trust.”
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 10:27 am
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Let’s have a sweepstakes to determine his successor. You can’t win, if you don’t play…
Comment by PublicServant Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 10:34 am
Now he can appoint his son to his place.
Comment by Just Me 2 Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 10:35 am
Arroyo: “Maybe now I can return to the city’s Water Dept. or join Gutierrez in Puerto Rico?”
Comment by Billy Sunday Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 10:38 am
And now he can start collecting his pension. At least until he is convicted of a felony.
Comment by My button is broke... Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 10:39 am
===Now he can appoint his son===
He doesn’t have the weighted vote to do that. And it would be stupid anyway because imagine running for the House when your name is Luis Arroyo, Jr.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 10:39 am
Shocker…
Comment by Raegan Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 10:41 am
Beyond extraordinary is how Madigan can make the comments with a straight face
Comment by Paul Powell's Shoebox Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 11:09 am
Those “later years” may not be so enjoyable sir.
Comment by A guy Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 11:13 am
Nice to hear Mike Madigan is working tirelessly to restore trust in Illinois government. How long has it been?
Perhaps he can move on the good government reforms he has been rejecting for decades
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 11:13 am
He thanked the right guys.
Comment by Donnie Elgin Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 11:14 am
I like how he lectures/gives advice to his fellow house members
Comment by Just Observing Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 11:15 am
And in the department of things better off left unsaid, thanks for reminding us to look into your member initiatives with even a stronger microscope than we were going to do anyway.
Comment by Been There Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 11:17 am
=He thanked the right guys.=
=Nice to hear Mike Madigan is working tirelessly to restore trust in Illinois government. How long has it been?=
So..the right thing happens and that isn’t good enough? Noted.
Comment by JS Mill Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 11:17 am
Two things:
1) “A strong independent voice for his constituents” I think he was a strong dependent voice on how Madigan told him to vote.
2) Who is he taking aim at regarding his peak effectiveness comment?
Comment by BigLou Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 11:18 am
“collegiate atmosphere”
“august body”
Such a cringe-worthy resignation letter. Utter embarrassment to be thanked in this testament.
Comment by City Zen Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 11:19 am
Who wrote this? Also ‘it’s’ or ‘its’ State Representative…”
Comment by Billy Sunday Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 11:27 am
You want Link to step down? He should be able to save the state money by providing recordings of various meetings (suposedly)
Comment by OneMan Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 11:31 am
“He gone” but will not be forgotten.
Comment by Responsa Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 11:32 am
I believe the language referencing the governor and speaker was done for a more nefarious reason.
Comment by Salty Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 11:35 am
Yikes..that Demmer is johny-on-the-spot too bad he missed with Paws, Cyber Attackee and Sauer.
Comment by Annonin Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 11:35 am
Sen. Link has denied being CW-1, and we have no official, public statement from the feds saying differently. Unless the Tribune/Sun-Times source can make a public statement to the contrary, taking steps against Link would be inappropriate. I happen to trust both papers, but it’s basically gossip at this point.
Comment by Perrid Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 11:36 am
=== imagine running for the House when your name is Luis Arroyo, Jr.===
And your point?
Comment by Just Me Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 11:37 am
“Legislative Ethics Commission”
Based on the number of GA members under a cloud of scandal/investigations, I would say that Link has had a huge influence on the commission.
Comment by Donnie Elgin Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 11:37 am
=== “The criminal complaint against Rep. Arroyo has shaken any trust the public had left in the General Assembly.“===
I expect Mr. Demmer to resign immediately.
The trust in the General Assembly should begin with ALL members leaving the body to gain the public’s trust
Mr. Demmer probably though this out in between cocktails at the cocktail parties he goes to but pretends he doesn’t.
Mr. Demmer is the wrong person to lead any resurgence in the party or the GOP GA.
Lunacy like that line is example 4,295
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 11:38 am
I had to look up who Tom Demmer is.
The Director of Strategic Planning at KSB Hospital, which does business with the state, serves on committees handling Health Care Availability & Access; Medicaid and managed care; a subcommittee on health care facilities; and the budget committee for human services.
Suddenly I have questions.
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 11:45 am
State Representative Tom Demmer (R-Dixon)
How appropriate that a gop member is attacking the unconfirmed whisteblower
Comment by Publius Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 11:47 am
Dear lord, right in the first paragraph. *facepalm*
Dear (soon to be not) Rep. Arroyo: “it’s” is a contraction; “its” is a possessive. You’re welcome.
Comment by Nick Name Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 11:53 am
===How appropriate that a gop member is attacking the unconfirmed whistleblower===
Sen. Link can clear this up at any point. He can ask the Special Agent in charge to declare that he is not the CW1. Sen. Link has not taken any steps to clear his name other than to deny the allegations. My guess is when all this plays out Sen. Link will state he was forbidden from stating anything as part of his agreement with the FBI.
Comment by Nagidam Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 11:59 am
==“it’s” is a contraction; “its” is a possessive.==
Maybe not a “collegiate atmosphere” after all.
Comment by City Zen Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 12:05 pm
It seems strange that the GOP would want someone removed from the Ethics Committee because they are allegedly helping the FBI.
Comment by Juvenal Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 12:14 pm
I kinda like the collegiate atmosphere line. Think Animal House.
Comment by Bluto Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 12:17 pm
== Sen. Link has not taken any steps to clear his name other than to deny the allegations.==
I know, right? Link must be crazy to think that republicans would avoid the hypocrisy of holding a mere state senator to a higher standard than they do their president. Expecting consistency on principles from conservatives, lol. What a maroon Link is. Next thing you know Link will start using terms like “fake news” and “corrupt media”
Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 12:29 pm
Has anyone calculated what his pension is starting in a few weeks?
Comment by Just Me 2 Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 12:33 pm
== My guess is when all this plays out Sen. Link will state he was forbidden from stating anything as part of his agreement with the FBI.==
The FBI didn’t require him to lie, did it?
He could have said “no comment” without violating either the FBI rule or lying
Comment by anon2 Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 12:37 pm
@Lester Holt’s Mustache
Assuming Sen. Link is CW1 as reported, he started cooperating in 2016. We do not know why he started cooperating. I doubt it was out of the goodness of his heart because he saw bad things happening in government. Plus, the documents indicate he was admonished by authorities for bad behavior of some unknown type. He at some point was “Fired” as a cooperating witness because he filed false tax returns. We don’t know as of yet why he filed false tax returns. That typically means you are hiding income. What is that income? Time will tell. Sen Link is on the Legislative Ethics Commission. I think it is appropriate for a Democratic or Republican legislator to call for Sen. Link to step down.
You can use President Trump as a Red Herring all you want. It does not change the fact that a sitting member of an Ethics Commission has a cloud of uncertainty hanging over their head and this person has not taken steps to remove this uncertainty. From a governmental standpoint what happens to any potential cases before the ethics commission that potentially get a ruling with Sen. Link still a member if he ends up being CW1? Food for thought.
Comment by Nagidam Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 12:51 pm
===there is still a focus on strengthening our laws to prevent this unacceptable conduct===
So a law to stop people from breaking the law? I have full confidence in the success of that effort. /s
Comment by thechampaignlife Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 12:57 pm
If I said you had an august body, would you hold it against me?
Comment by Squround Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 1:01 pm
collegiate atmosphere. that’s one way of describing what some have called the den of iniquity.
Comment by Amalia Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 1:18 pm
Hey Hey…hold it fellas. Why should Senator Link resign? He hasn’t been found guilty of a felony or even charged, or indicted. At most, he turned in someone who probably was attempting to bribe him. He denies he is the CW here. Be even if he is the CW, is it unethical to turn in someone who is attempting to bribe? Where are we going with this?
Comment by NW Suburban Believer Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 1:33 pm
Link is not the CW just like OJ is still searching for Nicole’s killer.
Comment by Anonable Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 1:53 pm
Cooperating witnesses aren’t whistleblowers if they are cooperating to avoid charges.
Comment by Chicagonk Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 1:54 pm
If TL is not the CW he might.have to file agaist the newsies that reported that he is the CW…. at some point does that CW get named ?
Comment by NorthsideNoMore Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 2:04 pm
It is not just the its/it’s thing… In doing so I took great pride in being a strong independent voice *from* my constituents…
Comment by bfieldgrammargirl Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 2:27 pm
Friday, 10/25: Rep. Arroyo is arrested by the FBI.
Friday, 11/1: Rep. Arroyo resigns from the GA.
Fridays just ain’t your day, Luis.
Comment by TGIF...nope Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 2:36 pm
===Has anyone calculated what his pension is starting in a few weeks?===
It’s the max, same as it is today - he already has his 20 years in.
==If TL is not the CW he might.have to file agaist the newsies that reported that he is==
Tough row to hoe there. As a public figure, Link would have to prove malice so he’d likely lose
Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 2:49 pm
“August body” I like my summer body better.
Comment by ETown60120 Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 3:19 pm
Was the first draft of this letter written in crayon?
Comment by Flat Bed Ford Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 3:27 pm
=== first draft===
My bet is this was the first draft.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 3:31 pm
Not excusing what CW1 did in terms of his personal tax obligation but there is a world of difference between not fully paying ones taxes and engaging in bribery as a public official to pass legislation on behalf of a lobbying client. CW1 May never be charged or he might be charged with a misdemeanor. Virtually every tax violation can be charged either as a felony or a misdemeanor
Comment by Sue Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 3:32 pm
Ouch. I will have to save this letter to share with colleagues as an example of why it’s important to write using plain but professional language. If you have to put effort into sounding smart, you probably won’t succeed.
Comment by Father Ted Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 3:48 pm
Still on the ILGA website..as a member..,tick tock….tick tock..
Comment by Billy Sunday Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 3:51 pm