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* My weekly syndicated newspaper column…
For decades, House Speaker Michael Madigan and everyone around him insisted that the man was always very scrupulous and extremely careful about not only the language that he used, but the language he allowed to be used in his presence.
For instance, if a property tax client of his law firm began to speak about legislation they were interested in, Madigan insisted he would immediately stop the conversation in its tracks and inform the client that he could do nothing for them. And nobody else ever said otherwise.
And that’s why these new Chinatown revelations in Madigan’s indictment are so startling to so many.
For instance: “On or about June 23, 2017, after [Ald. Danny Solis] informed MADIGAN that: (i) representatives of Company C would meet with MADIGAN so that MADIGAN could seek legal work for his private firm; (ii) Company C still needed to deal with [Solis] ‘in terms of zoning’ for the [Chinatown] Apartment project; and (iii) ‘I think they understand how this works, you know, the quid pro quo, the quid pro quo,’ MADIGAN said, ‘Okay. . . . Very good.’”
The Madigan of legend would’ve immediately stopped all dealings with Solis when he mentioned “quid pro quo.”
But the Madigan portrayed in the indictment kept right on meeting with Solis for more than a year and allegedly conspired to pass state legislation to clear the way for a Chinatown real estate project and obtain a state position for Solis, all in order to obtain legal fees for his law firm and perhaps a contract for his son’s insurance firm.
Those Chinatown property tax legal fees, by the way, wouldn’t have generated nearly the same income as any of Madigan’s prestigious Loop skyscraper clients. Madigan comes off as a common legislative grifter, eagerly and relentlessly using his power to chase after small potatoes.
The venality of the former House Speaker was one of the primary focuses of the Ken Griffin-backed slate of statewide Republican candidates which began its public roll-out last week.
All of the candidates did their best to blast Madigan and connect their opponents to the indicted former pol. The Republicans say the “Madigan issue” still polls quite well and it must (at least in the GOP primary), because the man was most certainly front and center last week. By my count, his name was mentioned 27 times, not including the press conference.
For instance, comptroller hopeful Shannon Teresi pointed out that incumbent Susana Mendoza began her career in the ward organization controlled by Ald. Danny Solis and once referred to Madigan as her “mentor.”
Steve Kim highlighted Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s acceptance of Madigan campaign money.
Secretary of state candidate John Milhiser claimed that as a former US Attorney he, “worked closely with the FBI, with the Northern District of Illinois in these investigations.
“There’ll be more prosecutions, more indictments coming down,” Milhiser predicted.
Rep. Tom Demmer, the slate’s candidate for treasurer, claimed House Republicans “created an environment where it became … impossible for [House Democrats] to refuse to hold their leader accountable. And by the time the next term rolled around, Mike Madigan didn’t have enough support to remain Speaker of the House.”
And gubernatorial candidate Richard Irvin said the state needs a governor who will “fight the Madigan Pritzker corruption that has plagued our state for decades.” His running mate, Rep. Avery Bourne, said she fought against Madigan’s “income tax hikes.”
They’re hardly the only Republicans who use the Madigan name to blast the other party. The state party and all the other candidates for governor all frequently recite the name like he never left the stage. And, for their purposes, he hasn’t.
And even some Democrats are quick to cite Madigan. “Everything that is tied to Madigan is called into question,” Rep. Ann Williams (D-Chicago) told the Better Government Association last week.
Williams made her statement after she and a group of her colleagues requested that Gov. JB Pritzker temporarily freeze funding for some state construction projects that the BGA found were requested by Madigan. Pritzker quickly agreed to the freeze, but members of the Latino Caucus pointed out that they had actually requested the projects. After a quick double-check, the governor un-froze the funding.
I think Williams’ statement was right. Madigan’s involvement should be checked out whenever warranted.
But, as celebrated Madigan foe Rep. Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago) told Ben Joravsky at the Chicago Reader: “All the best and worst things that have occurred in this state have his fingers on them.”
* In related news, this story was published by the Sun-Times after my column already went out…
The Sun-Times has identified the developer prosecutors have said got pressured to hire the law firms of Indicted former Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan (left) and indicted former Ald. Edward M. Burke (14th) as 601W Companies, best known in Chicago for redeveloping what’s now called the Old Post Office.
The New York developer that resurrected Chicago’s abandoned main post office now finds itself in the middle of two blockbuster political corruption cases.
Three years ago, the Chicago Sun-Times reported the developer, 601W Companies, was cooperating in the federal investigation of Ald. Edward M. Burke, who authorities later said had bullied the company to hire his law firm to lower the property taxes on what’s been branded the Old Post Office, which straddles the Eisenhower Expressway downtown. […]
“601W Companies and its representative were completely unaware of the alleged secret scheme between former Ald. Solis and Speaker Madigan to steer property tax work to Madigan’s law firm in exchange for a salaried appointment to a state board for Solis,” a written statement from the developer says. “The company and its representative have and will continue to fully cooperate with federal law enforcement authorities.”
* More…
* Did McClain speak for the House speaker Michael Madigan? A legal battle to watch for in Madigan case: To use McClain’s statements against Madigan, DePodesta said prosecutors will have to show first that a conspiracy existed involving the two men, and then that the statements in question were made “during and in furtherance” of that conspiracy. She said they’ll have to show their allegations are more likely true than not. And to help meet their burden, they’ll have Solis and Fidel Marquez, a onetime ComEd executive who pleaded guilty to a bribery conspiracy in 2020, agreeing to cooperate with the feds. Prosecutors would make their case in what’s known as a Santiago proffer, typically a highly detailed document filed closer to trial.
* Politico: A source close to former Michael Madigan’s court case disputes speculation based on previous high-profile indictments that the feds could go after his campaign fund — which currently sits at $10.5 million. The indictment against Madigan does not include charges related to his campaign. That differs from the corruption cases against former Govs. George Ryan and Rod Blagojevich, where campaign funds were integral to the charges. In the case against Blago, the former Democratic governor was charged specifically with shaking down a hospital executive for a $50,000 campaign contribution. And in Ryan’s case, the indictment said his staffers (while he was secretary of state) were required to solicit campaign funds during the course of business hours.
* Mark Brown: Michael Madigan, Edward Burke corruption cases point to unrelenting greed, though they hardly needed more money
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 7:55 am
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I think calling Madigan a “common grifter” isn’t fair. He was an exceptionally organized grifter who ran a very long-running scheme to enrich himself that, allegedly, operated on both sides of the law.
Comment by Keyrock Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 8:06 am
So, not the ingenious and insidious puppet master that the GOP claimed stymied them for decades?
Just a common huckster with organizational skills that could count?
Interesting.
Comment by Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 8:19 am
Madigan (or his people) had his fingers in every agency of state government as well for jobs. When I was liaison for Department of Natural Resources his jobs control went even into our Urban Fishing program that hired in Chicago and other urban areas. A percentage of every job was in his hands. For everyone to act shocked that he was a grifter is unbelievable. Everyone knew what he was doing. Quid pro quo existed every where for Madigan.
Comment by JohninChicago Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 8:27 am
How I wish Mike Royko were still around to pen the blockbuster book on the life and times of Michael Madigan.
Comment by Responsa Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 8:35 am
Good story in the Times on Sunday.
Having a writer that knows the players and has a long history of the comings and goings in Springfield comes through in the article and is a big plus for the paper and it’s readers.
The quote from the former United States Attorney from central Illinois jumped out at me regarding his belief that more indictments and prosecutions are coming. That was welcome news.
Comment by Back to the Future Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 8:39 am
Another factor for explaining the small potatoes is that the big potatoes just as likely to understand the quid pro quo and then make the educated decision to simply not engage so that they can avoid the embarrassment of being caught bribing politicians as a publicly traded company.
Like that scene from Sopranos where they hit up a Starbucks.
Comment by Candy Dogood Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 8:43 am
“I am an exceptional grifter.”
Comment by Steve Rogers Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 8:55 am
===How I wish Mike Royko were still around to pen the blockbuster book on the life and times of Michael Madigan.===
And Bill Cellini …
Comment by Anyone Remember Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 8:59 am
I would withhold judgement on what kind of grifter Madigan is. The feds haven’t presented all their evidence yet. I’d agree he’s a common grifter if there’s evidence he took cash in an envelope . So far I’d call Madigan a more cautious grifter. Madigan got to the top by being more polished and refined . The machine boss wasn’t going to be a saloon keeper (like 100 years ago) but a property tax appeals lawyer who was in tune with the vale of the tax base.
Comment by Steve Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 9:00 am
Rich, I want to especially thank you for this coverage. I think it is important that we dispel the myths around Mike Madigan — in the end he was a petty and greedy little man and that’s what we should remember him as.
===Madigan got to the top by being more polished and refined .===
Polished and refined people don’t try to end the careers of women who complain about sexual harassment at work. Not in the 1960s, not in the 1980s, and especially not in 2016. A man who is the head of an organization that would retaliate in such a fashion is not running a polished or refined organization.
Comment by Candy Dogood Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 9:14 am
“he was a petty and greedy little man…”
…that Democrats continued to select as the leader of the House and state party without question or complaint.
Comment by Downstate Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 9:22 am
===…continued to select as the leader of the House===
… until Dems didn’t, or at least the 19.
Madigan is a private citizen today, no need for the Arroyo Rule.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 9:25 am
=In the end he was a petty and greedy little man =
Who spent decades seeding Dem party leadership with individuals that would bend to his will.
Comment by Donnie Elgin Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 9:28 am
OW,
“Madigan is a private citizen today.”
Classic. Much as you apply to Rauner?
Who I’ll note has never been indicted.
Comment by Downstate Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 9:28 am
this is a really good piece, Rich. and exceptionally shocking that after all these years we see such an ugly truth.
Comment by Amalia Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 9:30 am
=== Classic. Much as you apply to Rauner?===
The damage Rauner caused, governmentally that is not only ignored, but either celebrated or gaslit to “blame Dems” (like the Dems held the state hostage, for one BIG one) … those receipts are still very fresh.
Very fresh.
Also the embarrassing way Rauner feels he and Madigan took themselves out… nope.
===Who I’ll note has never been indicted.===
Your bar is low. Noted.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 9:31 am
Can’t be elected leader of the House unless your party holds the majority, so…
Comment by Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 9:32 am
Oh please. The Solis filing in 2019 and video/audio recordings showed that Madigan had no problem courting property tax clients while discussing official state business, just Rich like so many others chose not to believe it.
Comment by SteveBartnonbinary Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 9:42 am
Don’t speak out against the great OW, or you’ll receive the condescending discipline.
Comment by Deputy Sheriff Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 9:43 am
- Deputy Sheriff -
If you can’t add to the discussion, what exactly are you adding?
===The Solis filing in 2019 and video/audio recordings showed that Madigan===
Your beef then is with the USA… it took 2+ years to indict… wonder why it took so long.
To the post,
One of my favorites, Rich. Good stuff and a reminder the failures of man must include the idea we as people sometimes make things far more bigger or complicated to what sometimes there a simplicity to what we are seeing.
I wrote this March 4th;
“ To MJM,
I mean, you look at these counts against him, is some of it merely (albeit alleged illegal actions as they are counts in an indictment) keeping an organization (which is now alleged to be a criminal entity?) rolling, patronage going? Isn’t legacy being able to have something “outlive” you?
How much “more” did Madigan need to stick around? MJM coulda been a Speaker of renown, the father of a governor, a legacy of family and continuation. So did MJM stay to enrich himself and others as alleged to deny a multi generational legacy? How many more dollars would’ve fed that need enough?
His partner in life, how many dinners missed, weekends lost, how many missed days were enough to say “I need to be home now, I’ve completed my calling”. The real sacrifices of families, not candidates, not electeds, families, to public service, how much would’ve been enough to let the scale fall to the “family” side…
… let alone being an in catalyst in having a spouse be moved from a passion she loves…
So, MJM is indeed “another”… stays too long, ruined a real opportunity to legacy, crushed opportunities to generational legacy, put into jeopardy a legacy and life after service, and with that a real chance of prison being a last stop in life
Knowing when to walk is as important as the timing to move ahead. Legacies are never guaranteed but can be crushed by a need to merely hang on.”
The simplicity of the grift.
That’s it. And needless greed.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 9:48 am
==Also the embarrassing way Rauner feels he and Madigan took themselves out==
Somewhere in Macoupin County Sam McCann is probably thinking he took both of them out (like he pledged to do so in one of 2018 debate lines).
Comment by NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 10:01 am
OW,
If the Dem’s are going to defend Madigan’s indictments by comparing them to Rauner’s term of office then it’s going to be a delightful election cycle.
Of course, that’s not to mention the innumerable Democrats that are sitting on donations from MJM. “Oh, we detest MJM. But we’ll keep his donations.” The ads write themselves.
Check out the latest Rasmussen poll on the top 6 issues for voters this year. I believe Rich characterized the upcoming election as a “woodchipper”. And that was before the MJM indictment.
If John Milhiser’s comments are accurate, then the onion is just starting to be peeled.
Comment by Downstate Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 10:13 am
The Illinois GOP is the “nice guy” of Illinois politics. They consistently fail to understand that the People of Illinois are not interested in their leadership or their policies and think that complaining about the Democratic Party suggests that Democratic voters along with women, people of color, or LGBTQ living in this state should be voting for the Illinois GOP.
They fail to understand that the problem is the GOP’s polices. The problem is how the GOP governs and the holier than though approach ignores a lot of the corruption that existed in the GOP that sent several of their governors to prison and the ones that didn’t go to prison didn’t exactly run business on the up and up and fingers can point to the decades long consequences of their own criminal schemes.
Oh — A billionaire is throwing money at the GOP in 2022? Great. The Illinois GOP must be forgetting how badly things went the last time a billionaire threw money at them in 2014 and a governor got elected on a pillar of lies and dishonesty and did everything he could to drive our state into financial ruin for either a personal vendetta or some belief he held that government was unnecessary, so he’d destroy the one he swore an oath to.
Though with all of that — the weirdest thing was still lying about his grandparents being immigrants repeatedly after he was corrected.
Comment by Candy Dogood Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 10:26 am
===Check out the latest Rasmussen poll===
Hard pass.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 10:32 am
=== If the Dem’s are going to defend Madigan’s indictments===
Which Dems have?
I mean… what *exactly* are you arguing here? Do you even know?
===Check out the latest Rasmussen poll===
Now add an abortion SCOTUS ruling or two…
… now have Bailey or Rabine be the nominee for governor.
It’s March. Months away from anything, and this ever changing world right now, Republicans being dangerous to women’s health and a Rabine or Bailey at the top of the ticket… with an embarrassingly ridiculous candidate taking on Duckworth…
… you think all your silly with Madigan is gonna wipe clean all that… months and months from now?
Gotta be honest, my in-law uncle makes a better argument than Rasmussen and Madigan.
If the bet is Madigan will save the GOP of it’s Rabine or Bailey, and will help Irvin, even after that bruising primary…
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 10:41 am
Supposedly in a following conversation with Solis Madigan told him not to use “quid pro quo”, just to “explain” that having good representation would make the process go smoother. Sure, if Madigan was even a little honest or as meticulous as the legend says he would have cut Solis off, but he did try to cut that line off, in a limited way.
Comment by Perrid Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 11:45 am
“Months away from anything..”
Yup, and the fact that Madigan pleaded “not guilty”, means the myriad of court actions and rulings up to and including the trial will be the gift that keeps on giving for Republican candidates.
It’s like the infamous actor from “Empire”. It’s been a three year debacle for people that supported him.
Comment by Downstate Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 12:01 pm
===means the myriad of court actions and rulings up to and including the trial will be the gift that keeps on giving for Republican candidates.===
What “new” voters are you attracting?
Where are they? What independents are now going to now be “we’ll, that it”… the man was at something in the neighborhood of 17% or lower.
DuPage County is on the cusp of possibly electing a Dem County Board Chair…
=== It’s like the infamous actor from “Empire”===
Old, angry, rural… and white… amirite?
It’s like you don’t realize you’re tattling on yourself, lol
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 12:04 pm
“Old, angry, rural… and white… amirite?”
OW,
Every time you start with personal attacks you are signaling victory for the other side. You are a good debater and too smart to have to resort to that.
Comment by Downstate Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 12:42 pm
===Every time you…===
… tell me who you are, I believe you.
I’m letting you know.
I believe you.
It’s an odd take to bring in the Smollett case, but… “I believe you”
You still haven’t said which new voters this brings in, how Bailey or Rabine help a ticket win, and you’re seemingly ignoring abortion as a real problem… but…
===It’s like the infamous actor from “Empire”===
I believe you.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 12:45 pm
Candy Dogwood If you follow this column you will have read that MJM ended not only harshly dealt with women who accused his people of harassment but just about anyone who opposed him. Quoting Rich there were piles of corpses of his political opponents piled up out side his office. He ruined many careers. Someone stated on this blog years ago that they wondered if he was slipping a bit. Maybe.
Comment by Ginhouse Tommy Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 1:03 pm
“You still haven’t said which new voters this brings in…”
I was pointing out the extended timeline of indictments, pleadings and trial only serve to keep the news (whether MJM or others) in the spotlight well past the original, alarming event.
Comment by Downstate Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 1:08 pm
=== I was pointing out the extended timeline…===
Extend it all you want. Double extend it.
New voters, where are they?
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 1:09 pm
Clearly this Madigan etc. news is not good for JBP or the Dems.
Maybe new votes for the Rs could come from newly registered voters including people who just reach voting age or new residents that are being hit with new tales of corruption every day.
Putting all those in the mix you are talking about a very small group of folks.
I think the biggest threat comes from Dem leaning voters who just stay home. PQ lost because he could not get his voters out. They just were not into PQ in that election cycle.
With all the negative campaigning we will be seeing, I think the turnout will be much lower and if Dems stay home the Rs could surprise us.
Corruption news adding a lot of new voters- - not likely, but it might get the Republican base out in larger than normal numbers while keeping some Dems on the sidelines.
Comment by Back to the Future Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 1:44 pm
Madigan will remain in the news, will remain in political ads, until the end of the primary election for both parties. Madigan will remain in the news, and will remain in political ads, until the end of this election cycle.
All the whataboutism counter arguments pale in comparison to Madigan remaining in the news, and on political ads for a long time into the future.
Comment by Louis G Atsaves Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 3:00 pm
===All the whataboutism counter arguments pale in comparison to Madigan remaining in the news, and on political ads for a long time into the future===
The question is it’s effectiveness to, let’s say, say in the General Election?
If it’s to keep a base engaged, then imagine months from now… abortion… in that same take.
The goal is to win elections, isn’t it?
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 3:22 pm
LGA- Sorry, this was too good not to use.
Trump will remain in the news, will remain in political ads, until the end of the primary election for both parties. Trump will remain in the news, and will remain in political ads, until the end of this election cycle.
All the whataboutism counter arguments pale in comparison to Trump remaining in the news, and on political ads for a long time into the future.
Comment by Live Wire Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 3:26 pm
=- Back to the Future - Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 1:44 pm:=
“ With all the negative campaigning we will be seeing, I think the turnout will be much lower and if Dems stay home the Rs could surprise us.
Corruption news adding a lot of new voters- - not likely, but it might get the Republican base out in larger than normal numbers while keeping some Dems on the sidelines.”
Including those like me. I am prepping to have sit this one out and let the chips fall, what a mess. The GOP, won’t intentionally vote for what they are offering, but my disgust with lack of, or poor showing of, Dem leadership, I might as well just enjoy my peace.
Comment by The Hills 60010 Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 4:00 pm
“New voters, where are they?”
They are called “independents”.
If school curriculum, community safety, and inflation become their focus of concern, the MJM debacle only hastens their move to the Republican Party.
Comment by Downstate Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 4:01 pm
===If school curriculum, community safety…===
You forgot…
===the infamous actor from “Empire”===
…friend, you already got the the old, angry, rural…
White
… voters. They ain’t independents, lol
You are oblivious to your own thoughts, aren’t you?
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 4:46 pm
Dear The Hills,
I believe it is a slap in the face to the people who have fought and died for all of our right to vote, and to “sit it out,” like a child, because I don’t get to pick the team like fantasy football.
but you do you, 60010.
Comment by Mary Poppins Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 4:57 pm
One step further?
Anyone who thinks…
===the infamous actor from “Empire”===
and believes…
===If school curriculum, community safety…===
… are “independent” voters… that’s like saying Mary Miller is “a bit moderate for my taste, but a Republican”
Goodness.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 4:58 pm
OW,
If there aren’t independent voters, why are the Democrats suddenly pivoting on community safety?
Comment by Downstate Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 5:37 pm
===If there aren’t independent voters===
That’s not what I typed, at all.
I explained your definition of *that* voter isn’t an independent.
Ginning up a base isn’t securing “independent” voters.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 5:40 pm
== Madigan (or his people) had his fingers in every agency of state government as well for jobs. When I was liaison for Department of Natural Resources…==
OK. When you were DNR liason, did you miss all the Thompson, Edgar, Ryan, Pate Philip hires or were you just willfully ignorant?
Comment by low level Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 5:57 pm
Wait, so no one wants to be one of the most trusted of the trusted anymore?
Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 6:50 pm