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Because… Madigan!

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Illinois

* Wednesday ILGOP press release…

Earlier this week, the “ComEd Four” were found guilty on all charges related to a conspiracy to bribe Former Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan.

“Finally, we are starting to see Illinois Democrats held accountable for their corrupt actions. After decades of Democratic insiders putting their personal interests ahead of Illinois residents, it’s now clear that the Madigan Democrat machine corrupted Illinois State government,” said Illinois Republican Party Chairman Don Tracy.

“Former Speaker Madigan may be gone, but we can’t forget that Illinois Democrats across the state – from Gov. JB Pritzker on down – supported, enabled and kissed the ring of Speaker Madigan,” added Chairman Don Tracy.

Rick Pearson…

Former Illinois House Republican leader Jim Durkin, who left the legislature after last year’s elections solidified the Democrats’ legislative supermajorities, said the verdict “opened a window” for GOP candidates to go after Democratic lawmakers who participated in Madigan’s operation.

”We have actually been given a glimpse of how Mike Madigan and his playbook, how they have operated in this corrupt manner for such a long time. It has now been brought to a jury, exposed and convicted of federal crimes,” Durkin said. “So Republicans should be talking of course about Mike Madigan, what he’s done to the state, what he’s done to our reputation, what he’s done to our finances.”

But, Durkin said, the window of opportunity slams shut if the political conversation turns from corruption to social issues.

” ‘Republicans, you’re anti-women, you’re anti-choice.’ We’ve got to stay away from that,” Durkin said, “particularly in the areas where we have to compete and where we should be winning — that is in the suburbs and the collar counties.”

* Ray Long and Jason Meisner…

It’s clear from the jurors who spoke after Tuesday’s clean-sweep guilty verdicts that the argument that Madigan and his associates have been pitching to the public — that this was all politics as usual — fell completely flat in a federal courtroom.

“We bought it for a while, but then when evidence started unfolding (we thought) ‘Explain to us how you can turn around and pay these folks gazillions of dollars and they’re not doing anything?’ ” juror Rob Garnes told the Tribune. “What does that have to do with lobbying?”

Hiring a lobbyist based on a leader’s recommendation and then not using that lobbyist could become problematic.

Back to the story…

Garnes said the general consensus of the panel was that, while nobody’s perfect, it seemed like no one seemed willing to step in and put a stop to the corruption.

“They just continually do it over and over and over again,” said Garnes, an IT professional who lives in Westmont.

Madigan surrounded himself with people who got the things he wanted done. Nobody in that circle seemed to question him about the line between right and wrong. Hubristically fatal mistake.

* WBEZ…

The state is suspending the legislative pension of former Commonwealth Edison lobbyist Michael McClain, but the move may not be permanent.

A spokesman for the state General Assembly Retirement System tells WBEZ that it has moved to withhold McClain’s pension following a federal jury’s verdicts against him in the ComEd bribery trial. […]

State law holds that legislative pensions can be revoked if a legislator has engaged in misconduct arising out of or in connection with his or her service in the General Assembly.

That could be a factor against the permanent revoking of McClain’s benefits — the wrongdoing that federal prosecutors focused upon spanned between 2011 and 2019, long after McClain’s time as a Democratic lawmaker from Quincy.

Which brings up the question of whether future legislators’ pensions should be yanked if they’re convicted of a felony. Your thoughts?

* I’ve seen lots of folks say this about Madigan…

But the writing is already on the wall – cut a deal with prosecutors now, or go to trial and risk spending the rest of your life in prison.

OK, cut a deal on what? The feds generally cut deals to avoid iffy trials and/or in exchange for the head of someone higher up the criminal food chain. The unanimous ComEd Four verdict indicates that Madigan’s trial likely won’t be all that iffy, and, as far as the G is concerned, Madigan was at the very tippity top of the food chain.

Unless Madigan agrees to plead guilty and takes a long sentence (perhaps, for instance, if they bust someone truly close to him), I don’t see it happening.

* On another topic…

Following the verdict in the ‘ComEd 4 trial’, Congressman Sean Casten (D) is calling for Michael Madigan to immediately step down as the Committeeman for the 13th Ward of Chicago.

Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) represents thousands of Illinoisans in the 13th Ward of Chicago.

“Mr. Madigan will have his day in court, but the corruption has come too close to his office for him to claim ignorance. Public service is a sacred trust. For the good of our democracy and the Democratic Party, he should step down at once,” said Rep. Casten.

I kinda wonder what US Rep. Chuy Garcia thinks, since his congressional district covers the 13th Ward. So, I reached out and will let you know.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, May 5, 23 @ 10:38 am

Comments

I think Jim Durkin has it right. Republicans focusing on Madigan isn’t going to move the needle all that much, if at all, in terms of election math in Illinois so long as their other platforms fall flat with Illinois voters. You can’t continue to double and triple down on stances that a clear majority of Illinois voters don’t agree with. As long as they remain anti-abortion and are running around banning books then I don’t see them stepping out of super minority status anytime soon. The Madigan thing hasn’t worked in the past and regardless of the court case I don’t see it working any better.

Comment by Demoralized Friday, May 5, 23 @ 10:47 am
The thing the GOP (both ILGOP and nationally) don’t get is that most Dem voters also don’t want corrupt Dems. We are more than happy to see Madigan or Blago get what is coming to them. We will just vote for a different Dem, not a Republican, and especially not the current crazy-pants ILGOP.

Comment by Homebody Friday, May 5, 23 @ 10:53 am
“cut a deal”… “jurors who spoke…was all politics as usual — fell completely flat in a federal courtroom”

The only deal MJM has left is to decide how to best to send the coming months as those may be his last ones as a free man.

Comment by Donnie Elgin Friday, May 5, 23 @ 11:00 am
We now know what the Com-Ed 4 did was illegal but trying to draw the lines about what is legal and what is illegal other than that may be a little tricky for lobbyists.

Comment by Just a Citizen Friday, May 5, 23 @ 11:01 am
Re: McClain’s GARS pension: The crowd will say “yank his pension” but the rule of law must prevail, especially since the ILSC has consistently upheld the constitutional language that a pension is a contract, and any revocation of that contract must adhere to the nexus of criminal activity in relation to their pensionable service.

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Friday, May 5, 23 @ 11:03 am
== whether future legislators’ pensions should be yanked if they’re convicted of a felony. Your thoughts? ==

No, I do not think pensions should become conditional on legal issues. To do so would require amending the Constitutional guarantees associated with pensions for state employees and others. Doing so would create just the slippery slope that conservatives seek to create.

Rather, I think the crime should dictate the punishment, and if a person’s pension is subsequently eaten up by penalties and fines, so be it.

Comment by H-W Friday, May 5, 23 @ 11:05 am
Also, Republicans have a massive problem with the leader of their party. Illinois Democrats forced Madigan out. Republicans either support their leader or are in dread of him or alienating their base. It’s an authoritarian outfit, more or less. That is on top of nearly tanking the state under Rauner and unpopular policy positions.

Comment by Grandson of Man Friday, May 5, 23 @ 11:09 am
==To do so would require amending the Constitutional guarantees ==

No it doesn’t. You can lose your state pension if you commit crimes related to your employment. It’s in the law already. People have lost their pensions because of it.

Comment by Demoralized Friday, May 5, 23 @ 11:15 am
“The feds generally cut deals to avoid iffy trials and/or in exchange for the head of someone higher up the criminal food chain.”

My observation is that the feds don’t usually bring charges at all unless it’s a slam dunk. Federal trials, especially of high profile people, can be a career-ender if the G loses, or a springboard to big things if G wins.

Aaron Schock’s case was a notable exception. But it did leave the feds with egg on their faces.

You’re right, Rich, that Madigan was the Big Kahuna here. Nothing left for him to deal with.

Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Friday, May 5, 23 @ 11:19 am
@Demoralized

Well if that’s the case already, then I change my mind. If guilty of bribery in public office, then yes - retract pension.

Comment by H-W Friday, May 5, 23 @ 11:21 am
I’ll take a Madigan Democrat over a MAGA Republican any day of the week and twice on Cinco de Mayo.

Comment by Flyin'Elvis'-Utah Chapter Friday, May 5, 23 @ 11:32 am
Hopefully, the next official facing a turn on the dance floor of the Dirksen Building will not develop a case of Fedzheimer’s disease before trial.

Comment by Rudy’s teeth Friday, May 5, 23 @ 11:34 am
@H-W

The Illinois Supreme Court has also had cases on it and has upheld the withholding of pensions for these reasons.

Comment by Demoralized Friday, May 5, 23 @ 11:35 am
==We will just vote for a different Dem, not a Republican, and especially not the current crazy-pants ILGOP.==.

My thoughts exactly. Well said.

Comment by low level Friday, May 5, 23 @ 11:36 am
Chairman Don must be so proud that Kellyanne slipped through IL just moments before she got some ink for sliding $25K to Ginni THomas from one of Leo Leonard’s slush funds. Standing O for the chair

Comment by Annonin' Friday, May 5, 23 @ 11:45 am
Agree with Annonin. Republicans have their own problems with corruption. Could really care less what Madigan did.

Comment by Jerry Friday, May 5, 23 @ 12:10 pm
“Sean Casten (D) is calling for Michael Madigan to immediately step down as the Committeeman”

It does seem as though Mr. Madigan, 81-years old, has more than enough on his plate these days.

– MrJM

Comment by MisterJayEm Friday, May 5, 23 @ 12:11 pm
Madigan’s problems were well known before the most recent election cycle and yet Tracy’s candidates still got trounced. I have no reason to believe that this weeks’ verdict or Madigan’s own guilt will change that in the near-term.

Comment by Pundent Friday, May 5, 23 @ 12:16 pm
== I’ll take a Madigan Democrat over a MAGA Republican ==

Exactly. If Mr Tracy and his guyx ever moved away from MAGA they might have a shot. Otherwise forget it.

Comment by low level Friday, May 5, 23 @ 12:24 pm
cut a deal

If and only if Madigan knows things the Feds don’t, that are significant.

His only hope, if he would take it, and if he had anything to cough up.

I expect his main goal now is to play 4 corners as long as he can to delay to go to jail day.

lose pension

This is a tough one. Courts have ruled the loss must be tied to the service in that particular gov body. So, as a state legislator he meets that criteria.

For something so long after, based on “I know people I met in the day” seems rather iffy to me

Comment by Fav Human Friday, May 5, 23 @ 12:31 pm
We’ve got to stay away from that,” Durkin said,

He’s not saying they are going to repudiate their position, just downplay it and hope the voters forget. Good luck with that.

Comment by Jibba Friday, May 5, 23 @ 12:38 pm
Speaking as someone who administered the pension forfeiture statutes for a number of state pension funds, the present requirement that the felony be “job-related” is sufficient. While I despise political corruption, McClain’s actions occurred long after he left his state employment. Now Madigan is a different story….

Comment by Retired SURS Employee Friday, May 5, 23 @ 12:50 pm
=He’s not saying they are going to repudiate their position, just downplay it and hope the voters forget.=

That was the playbook of days gone by. Today’s GOP embraces these positions. Has a lot to do with why Jim Durkin after all these years is on the outside looking in.

Comment by Pundent Friday, May 5, 23 @ 12:54 pm
By all means IL GOP, double down on the “Because Madigan”. It’s worked so well for you in the past on your journey to super minority.

Comment by Manchester Friday, May 5, 23 @ 1:32 pm
Two things have essentially been established:

1) A corrupt organized crime syndicate was being run under the Dome for years. ComEd is but one company - this behavior was pervasive. Still stunning that many on that gravy train family tree still do not understand that it is wrong and were knowing enablers.

2) The new fringe MAGA/Eastern Bloc crowd are ill-informed, low character grifters whose political acumen is non-existent.

Both are appalling.

Comment by OK Friday, May 5, 23 @ 1:52 pm
The McClain pension loophole should be corrected for future cases. A no brainer. They should not be entitled to a legislative pension if the crime involved his work with the legislature or other public bodies even if he was no longer a legislator.

Comment by Just Sayin Friday, May 5, 23 @ 3:32 pm
Just Saying- what you actually are requesting with your pension abrogation suggestion would be a complete refutation of the Pension Clause. Don’t imagine you really want that but it would go a long way in solving the pension funding crisis if it was that easy to abrogate vested pension rights😆😆

Comment by Sue Friday, May 5, 23 @ 3:42 pm
‘Explain to us how you can turn around and pay these folks gazillions of dollars and they’re not doing anything?’ ” juror Rob Garnes told the Tribune. “What does that have to do with lobbying?” I saw Jay Doherty surrounded by reporters in the elevator lobby of the Union League Club after Kwame Raoul’s speech on Oct. 21, 2019. Apparently the reporters knew City Club offices on Michigan Ave. had been searched in May, but I didn’t know what the hubub was about until I watched TV news that night.

I wonder what AG staffer Nathalina Hudson knew. She was formerly an AUSA in the Northern District.

Comment by Payback Friday, May 5, 23 @ 4:01 pm
I’ll take a Madigan Democrat over a MAGA Republican any day of the week and twice on Cinco de Mayo.

And Madigan thanks you. He couldn’t have done it without voters like you.

Comment by Ron Zeiss Tuesday, May 9, 23 @ 1:38 pm