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Pritzker: “If these allegations of wrongdoing by the speaker are true, there is no question that he will have betrayed the public trust and he must resign”

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* Gov. Pritzker said this at the end of his prepared remarks today about today’s ComEd stories…

I have read several of the articles today. And I am deeply troubled and frankly, I’m furious with what is being reported.

The speaker has a lot he needs to answer for, to authorities, to investigators and most importantly to the people of Illinois.

These allegations strike at the core of what public service means. It’s a high calling, public service. It’s a high calling, one in which we serve with a sacred trust to put the people first.

If these allegations of wrongdoing by the speaker are true, there is no question that he will have betrayed the public trust and he must resign, therefore.

In the meantime, I urge the speaker to fully cooperate with the investigation and answer all questions as quickly as possible.

I’ll update with any responses to questions.

…Adding… He was asked about the other story today regarding his property taxes…

There’s nothing new to tell you. I learned about this from a reporter. The facts about this matter have been public for some time and they’ve extensively been discussed as they were in the 2018 election, and they’ve been fully aired. And as I’ve always said, any review will show that all the rules were followed, but I’ve not been contacted by federal authorities nor has my wife.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 12:31 pm

Comments

It’s never good to have the Feds name you “Public Official A”!!

Comment by JudgeDavidDavis Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 12:33 pm
Seems like JB sees writing on the wall.

Comment by CubsFan16 Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 12:35 pm
=== If these allegations of wrongdoing by the speaker are true, there is no question that he will have betrayed the public trust and he must resign, therefore.===

Former Representative Arroyo was merely indicted… and forced to resign.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 12:37 pm
That quote about bankruptcy comes to mind right now.

“At first you go bankrupt slowly, then all at once.”

Will be interesting to see where we end up on Monday

Comment by Nick Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 12:38 pm
He’s clearly shocked, *shocked* to learn of such behavior by Madigan

Comment by fs Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 12:43 pm
“If these allegations of wrongdoing by the speaker ”

He forgot to include that he is also Chairman of the Democratic Party of Illinois.

Comment by Donnie Elgin Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 12:47 pm
This is the old Machine in action. Read last night about corruption with utilities and pols in Chicago way back in the day.

Agree with Pritzker, Madigan should resign if he’s guilty. But at the same time, should there not be federal charges to call for the resignation? We live in a world of extreme partisanship, and after witnessing what’s happening in Washington, it sets a precedent for brutal resistance. But Democrats should do the right thing and call for the resignation if or because it’s warranted.

Comment by Grandson of Man Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 12:47 pm
=== Madigan should resign if he’s guilty===

No.

“Madigan should resign if he’s indicted, as the Speaker made clear when faced with then Representative Arroyo”

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 12:49 pm
I can’t wait to see what petty act of revenge the speaker has ready for politicians calling for his resignation today…

Comment by NIU Grad Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 12:52 pm
“Madigan should resign if he’s indicted”

the grand Jury subpoena just hit - the indictment is forthcoming

Comment by Donnie Elgin Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 12:52 pm
Defending your buddies to the bitter end, eh OW ?

Comment by Gene Gene Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 12:54 pm
I have two thoughts about what is going on:
1. Why wasn’t all of today’s news a Friday night news dump?
2. How much of this investigation is politically motivated from AG Barr?

Comment by Huh? Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 12:54 pm
This is probably Pritzker being conservative. Come just short of calling for an immediate resignation, and give a little more time to see how the chips fall. Ultimately no one will ding him if he comes out in favor of him resigning immediately on monday.

Comment by Nick Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 12:55 pm
=== Defending your buddies to the bitter end===

Huh? Are you unable to understand precedent.

Indictment means resignation.

Heck, the Governor said “guilt” not indictment.

Please wear a mask when mouth breathing that heavy.

Think of others.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 12:56 pm
What’s good for the goose for the goose is good for the gander. Got that MJM?

Comment by Etown Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 12:57 pm
Arroyo standard applies. Madigan must resign if he’s indicted. He hasn’t been indicted yet, but he should resign. The writing is on the wall. He won’t be speaker next year.

Comment by Southern Skeptic Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 12:57 pm
Well, rats. The hour and date the Gov would call for Madigan to resign had the makings of a good office pool. But that’s already shot. Ce la vie.

Comment by Motambe Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 1:02 pm
“Defending your buddies to the bitter end, eh OW ?”

No. OW is being consistent. Rather than wait for a conviction, OW is saying Madigan should resign if indicted, just as Madigan insisted Arroyo resign after his indictment.

If Madigan were to resign upon conviction, he would be absent from his post in Springfield during the trial. The residents of Illinois deserve the full attention of their elected officials.

Hence, OW assertion that Madigan should resign upon indictment.

Comment by Huh? Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 1:02 pm
Give the Guv credit. He didn’t engage in the lets wait and see what the facts are nonsense. He said it as nicely as he could so as not to throw the Speaker under the bus. Who is going to be the next Speaker? Fascinating stuff.

Comment by 19th Ward Guy Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 1:05 pm
(Tips cap to - Huh? -)

I keep typing it clearly, yet…

The governor deciding a different measure is not the Illinois House measure.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 1:06 pm
Bus meet Madigan, Madigan meet bus.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 1:06 pm
“He won’t be speaker next year.”

But the dems will have the maps.

Comment by Huh? Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 1:07 pm
OW, you may find this hard to believe, but I am in agreement with you.

Comment by pool boy Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 1:08 pm
The idea that OW is “defending buddies” is ridiculous.

===How much of this investigation is politically motivated from AG Barr?===

ComEd spent millions to influence the legislature in a fashion that appears to be illegal. To suggest that we’re at this avenue because of political motives ignores the forest fire’s worth of smoke that would have alerted anyone paying attention.

Convictions for those guilty are a mutual benefit for the public. Sure, the GOP can use this issue to hammer the Democratic Party, but this attitude assumes that the GOP is unpopular because of the Democratic Party’s popularity, and not because of their self inflicted ignorant approach to governing and public policy.

Comment by Candy Dogood Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 1:09 pm
- pool boy -

It’s a crazy day, isn’t it?

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 1:13 pm
Governor Pritzker - although i agree with your statement Ed Burke won re-election after being indicted. Madigan is unopposed this year and the constituents decide who represents them.

Will anyone in the caucus bite the hand that feeds them in calling for him to step down as speaker?

Comment by 1st Ward Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 1:20 pm
As a Dem, I was pleased to have Madigan around to counter Rauner’s nihilism and the oppressive social positions of the Republicans. However, I dislike corrupt insider politics, which I have personally experienced from both parties in roughly equal measure. I will not be sorry to see him go, in hopes of more honest government.

Comment by Jibba Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 1:24 pm
=== Will anyone in the caucus … calling for him to step down as speaker?===

If indicted, it’ll be a universal call, the “Arroyo Rule”

===bite the hand that feeds them===

This isn’t Facebook, be better.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 1:26 pm
=He didn’t engage in the lets wait and see what the facts are nonsense.=

He also didn’t claim it was incredibly unfair, a witchhunt, claim that Madigan was being treated very badly, or otherwise thumb his nose at the criminal justice system.

Comment by Pundent Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 1:45 pm
What does this do to fair tax. Guvs tax issues will become fodder. There should be a mansion tax to be fair

Comment by Bruce Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 2:12 pm
Rich,
This is a Constitutional crisis. Illinois citizens have been deprived of honest government for >30 years. This crime casts suspicion on every law, constitutional amendment, and legislative boundary passed in Illinois for a generation. Bona fide leaders should call a constitutional convention to rebuild a fair and just foundation of this State.

Comment by @griffinancial Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 2:19 pm
==As a Dem, I was pleased to have Madigan around to counter Rauner’s nihilism==

Not to mention Madigan serving as a counterweight to Blago/Emil 10 to 15 years before Rauner.

Comment by Chatham Resident Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 2:27 pm
=== deprived of honest government for >30 years===

Goodness gracious, it’s not like there weren’t … 15 elections… in that time…

But, victims gotta victim.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 2:28 pm
Seems a little quick for Gov JBP to throw the Speaker under the bus already..

Comment by PrescottBloomthe4th Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 2:32 pm
== This is a Constitutional crisis.==

Lol be careful not to break any knuckles, clutching pearls that hard has been known to cause serious injury

Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 2:35 pm
This is a Constitutional Crisis. You have a Governor who had no authority to issue an EO after 30 days. I think we see why Madigan wasn’t interested in doing much more than a bare bones budget this year as he was clearly pre-occupied.

So unless this Virus is all BS, you have a real state of emergency, a Governor with no authority, and a legislature in chaos.

If Madigan cared one bit about the state he would step down as Speaker if only temporarily so the legislature can function on an emergency basis if necessary. If he is exonerated, they can put him back in place in January.

Comment by the Patriot Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 2:36 pm
=== This is a Constitutional Crisis.===

It’s not.

You’re gonna hurt yourself twisting and turning as you are. Stretch first, maybe start with yoga.

“Constitutional crisis”… it’s Friday and you’re enjoying a beverage, you don’t need to type….

Rod… that was a constitutional crisis.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 2:40 pm
== Seems a little quick for Gov JBP to throw the Speaker under the bus already..==

Not at all, if anything it’s the opposite. If JB had thrown him under the bus or even just worked behind the scenes to push MJM into retirement after the thumping he gave Rauner (like I and others advocated for here repeatedly), he’d be better able to keep this at arms length today. Instead of focusing on answering Covid questions, he’s gonna get 20 questions about Madigan every day for the next four months

Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 2:41 pm
===You have a Governor who had no authority to issue an EO after 30 days.===

Username says Patriot, words say otherwise.

Comment by Candy Dogood Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 2:52 pm
== You have a Governor who had no authority to issue an EO after 30 days==

Good grief, you proclaim this as if it’s written in stone. The only people who believe this is one bumpkin county judge who’s more concerned with his own fishing trips than with keeping his family and neighbors out of the hospital, and one state rep who’s more concerned with appearing on fox news than he is with actually accomplishing anything. Let’s not get carried away with the IPI talking points so early in the day

Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 2:54 pm
=Seems a little quick for Gov JBP to throw the Speaker under the bus already=

How exactly is Prtizker throwing the Speaker under the bus? If he doesn’t get indicted then life goes on. And if he does he needs to leave. Seems fairly straight forward. The best thing that any politician can do is to be clear and unequivocal on corruption. Break the law, go to jail. Pretty simple.

Comment by Pundent Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 3:24 pm
If the Governor thought he had the power to enforce his orders, he would not have sued schools yesterday.

The legislature took the year off, now we know why. How do dems explain to constituents we burned a year with a majority and the Governor because the guy I voted for for speaker was under Investigation.

Not drinking Willy. I have a real job and everything. and no, blogging from your parents basement is not a real job.

Comment by the Patriot Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 3:26 pm
=== If he doesn’t get indicted then life goes on. And if he does he needs to leave.===

That is the precedent the Illinois House has set, and Speaker Madigan showed as its “case law”

We can discuss our own thoughts, own takes, even throw in feelings and emotions, but the Illinois House as an elected body has set its bar, and it’s not even conviction, it’s indictment.

Pretty straightforward… very straightforward.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 3:29 pm
===I have a real job and everything===

I hope for your employers’ sake you’re doing it on your own time… being this ridiculously obtuse…

===The legislature took the year off, now we know why===

Tin foil hats in this heat… hydrate.

===If the Governor thought he had the power to enforce his orders, he would not have sued schools yesterday.===

He’s suing to enforce the order. Keep up.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 3:33 pm
Why not follow the Ed Burke precedent? Keep your seat, but step down as a speaker pending the outcome.

Comment by Practical Politics Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 3:46 pm
=== Why not follow===

Edward M. Burke is not a member of the General Assembly.

Madigan himself made The Arroyo Rule the benchmark.

I know you’d like him to stay as an indicted member, but that’s not his thus is gonna fall

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 3:55 pm
=Why not follow the Ed Burke precedent? Keep your seat, but step down as a speaker pending the outcome.=

Because that’s not the standard that was set - by Mike Madigan. He’s been clear. Get indicted you leave.

Comment by Pundent Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 3:57 pm
==Instead of focusing on answering Covid questions, he’s [Pritzker] gonna get 20 questions about Madigan every day for the next four months==

For Pritzker, I think that is preferred to the toilet questions that would have been flowing (ahem) if the Berrios investigation hadn’t been announced the same day as the Madigan subpoena.

Comment by SAP Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 4:16 pm