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Buried Madigan indictment nugget explained by Sun-Times

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* From the Madigan indictment

[Alderman Danny Solis] assured MADIGAN that “there’s a lot of good stuff happening in my ward” and that he would help MADIGAN obtain legal business for his private law firm; and (d) MADIGAN in return assured Alderman A that he would help him obtain a State board appointment by telling Alderman A, “Just leave it in my hands,” and asked that Alderman A also help a relative of MADIGAN and the relative’s employer obtain business from Organization B.

Emphasis added for obvious reasons.

* Mark Brown, Tim Novak and Jon Seidel figured it out

The relative and the organization are unnamed in the indictment. But the Sun-Times has identified the family member as Andrew R. Madigan, the speaker’s son, and the community-based organization as The Resurrection Project, a Pilsen social service provider that has become an important low-income housing developer on the Southwest Side.

The indictment accuses neither Andrew Madigan nor The Resurrection Project of any wrongdoing, but it suggests that the speaker’s request to Solis to help his son was part of a corrupt exchange of favors between the two politicians. […]

Andrew Madigan works for Alliant/Mesirow Insurance Services, helping the company develop business. For many years, his work included soliciting insurance work from suburban municipal governments, including Alsip, Lyons, McCook, Schiller Park and Summit.

All of those suburbs have been under investigation by federal authorities. McCook’s former mayor Jeffrey Tobolski, who also served as a commissioner on the Cook County Board, has pleaded guilty to taking more than $250,000 in bribes and extortion payments. He is cooperating with investigators and has yet to be sentenced for his crime. […]

“At no point were we pressured about doing business with anybody,” [Raul Raymundo, longtime chief executive officer for The Resurrection Project] emphasized.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 8:04 am

Comments

  1. Great work by Sun Times. But it’s not new news that Madigan helped Andrew in a lot of places. Everybody knew it was BS but it was the price of doing biz in Illinois. The benefit to the taxpayer of this state of Madigan’s departure is a incalculable. Corrupt to the core

    Comment by Watchful eye. Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 8:23 am

  2. “For many years, his work included soliciting insurance work from suburban municipal governments, including Alsip, Lyons, McCook, Schiller Park and Summit.
    All of those suburbs have been under investigation by federal authorities.”

    Right or wrong, there are just some cities, villages, municipalities, areas of the state ya know are just dripping corruption. Steer clear if you do not want to be party to compromising or asked to compromise.

    Comment by The Hills 60010 Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 8:29 am

  3. Paraphrasing. Well if you can’t help your son who can you help
    This will never stop there are not enough gh Paul Simons in the world
    Isn’t this a state that has a Shakeman decree and it hires relatives to mono politicians so they don’t hire relatives?

    Comment by DuPage Saint Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 8:30 am

  4. Madigan to self: “Don’t these puritans understand how much better we were compared to the Capone days? By God, we’ve done a lot of good for a long time. We’ve helped a lot of people over the years, and what do we get? Indictments. No good deed goes unpunished. To hell with them….”

    Comment by Sayitaintso Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 8:41 am

  5. Sure looks a lot like Mike Madigan was at the center of some kind of decades long criminal conspiracy, doesn’t it?

    ===This will never stop there are not enough gh Paul Simons in the world===

    You have to be optimistic. The problem isn’t that there aren’t enough Paul Simons in the world, the problem is that we’ve let people excuse their complicity. There are plenty of other states in this country that don’t have the issues that the State of Illinois has experienced and if they do, they tend to not be on this level. It’s easy to feel hopeless or helpless because we’re needing to recover from decades of being told that this was the way and it was the only way and so we didn’t have a choice.

    There are plenty of people that didn’t call the FBI when they should have. That’s on them. Someone doesn’t need to be at a Paul Simon level of political significance to call the FBI.

    Comment by Candy Dogood Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 8:44 am

  6. Most of my Madigan posts have been getting deleted. I suppose my bitterness over having my career ruined by the Madigan Organization has been bleeding through. So let’s see if I get through Rich’s filter this time.

    Here is what I find interesting: Everyone in state politics knew Madigan was corrupt. But most had faith the Speaker knew the difference between corrupt behavior, and illegal behavior. It was easier to go along, hire his buddies, contribute to his campaign fund(s), and not rock the boat.

    Madigan purposefully recruited weak candidates. Some of the strongest and most thoughtful members of that caucus were appointed, not elected with Madigan influence. He wanted people in his caucus that would depend on him to make every decision and get re-elected.

    Over the years we’ve all wondered, “Why does he keep going? Why not retire?” Now we have the answer. He and his family were making money off this very complex enterprise.

    So what changed? Why did Madigan all of a sudden become unacceptable? It sure wasn’t the threat of a federal indictment. It was the Me Too movement. It was women finally standing up for themselves. Good for them. I’m just sorry it took so many years for Madigan to finally be shown the door.

    Comment by Just Me 2 Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 8:46 am

  7. === You have to be optimistic. The problem isn’t that there aren’t enough Paul Simons in the world, the problem is that we’ve let people excuse their complicity. There are plenty of other states in this country that don’t have the issues that the State of Illinois has experienced and if they do, they tend to not be on this level. It’s easy to feel hopeless or helpless because we’re needing to recover from decades of being told that this was the way and it was the only way and so we didn’t have a choice. ===

    If you think that other States do not have similar problems on a similar scale, you are just not paying attention. Its not that we have more corruption, its that the US Attorney’s office in this state has been more aggressive in combatting public corruption.

    Comment by Hannibal Lecter Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 8:51 am

  8. You speak of Saint Paul the Simon as an angelic figure that never took advantage or a nickel in corrupt money to help himself get elected. Grow up.

    Comment by Nieva Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 9:03 am

  9. Was talking to friend from Oklahoma who mentioned Illinois’ history of having governors and lawmakers arrested.

    I told him the difference between Illinois and other “clean states” is we catch and prosecute our dirty politicians.

    Comment by Give Me A Break Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 9:07 am

  10. The Madigan stink is on all of them.

    Comment by Soapbox Derby Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 9:10 am

  11. I have a few old and dear friends that feel Illinois is no worse than other states when it comes to corruption.
    I just don’t buy into that idea.
    Illinois not only a history of corruption that routinely puts us at or near the top of corrupt governments; but, as evidenced by the recent indictments and convictions, we have a serious and deep seeded culture of corruption.

    Comment by Back to the Future Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 9:29 am

  12. ===I just don’t buy into that idea.===

    (Hashtag) Alternative Facts

    There’s this idea of gloom, like the Trib Edit Board…

    “We have to be the worst… we just have to”

    A want is not a fact, alternative or not.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 9:43 am

  13. As an immigrant to Illinois, a crucial enabler for corruption is the excessive number of governments. People can mistakenly and/or deliberately break the law in public & there is no one to witness it.

    Comment by Anyone Remember Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 9:53 am

  14. its amazing that madigan’s defense is the same as blago’s. one as corrupt as the other. one as deserving of jail time as the other.

    Comment by association assn Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 9:54 am

  15. Hate it that Raul Raymundo and the Resurrection Project have their names dragged into this. The work they have done is fantastic and they should have no stain on their legacy. Freakin’ greedy charged folks.

    Comment by Amalia Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 10:02 am

  16. Being compared to the Trib Ed Board was pretty tough on poor old Back, but I get your point. I would argue the Trib editorial Board is in a class of their own.
    Corruption is and has been a problem in Illinois.
    If the National rankings on corruption, the number of corruption (ever increasing) cases and the fact that we are one of the highest taxed citizens in the country with the lowest state bond ratings doesn’t support concerns about corruption then the only conclusion that makes sense is that corruption in Illinois is a cultural problem.
    In many ways Illinois is truly a great state with lot’s of opportunity for it’s citizens. In lot’s of rankings we are at or near the top.

    Comment by Back to the Future Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 10:02 am

  17. ===If you think that other States do not have similar problems on a similar scale, you are just not paying attention. Its not that we have more corruption, its that the US Attorney’s office in this state has been more aggressive in combatting public corruption. ===

    Does public corruption exist? Sure. Does it exist everywhere? Maybe. Is it as deliberate, focus, and run with an appearance of being a full flung criminal syndicate where fortune 500 companies are required to hire politically connected people for positions that they’re not qualified to perform in a manner that looks a bit like ghost pay-rolling people? No.

    Are other states sending well connected vendors to smooth over tensions when demanding a bribe from a film maker? No.

    How many House Speakers in this country are using their political clout to try to punish, suppress, and end the career of a former employee who complained about being sexually harassed by a supervisor?

    This “we’re just like everybody else” and “everybody is doing it” attitude is exactly how we got to the place where we’re at where numerous governors have been convicted for crimes, and the ones that haven’t still have some questionable stuff — like multi-million dollar campaign contributions in exchange for public contracts (Looking at you, Edgar) or stealing tens of thousands of public jobs to give to their friends, allies, and political supporters (Looking at you, Thompson)

    This isn’t normal. This isn’t what everyone is doing. This should not be defended. For the love of democratic society, there’s a millionaire whose family used to dole out loans to the mob at the bank he worked at that still thinks it’s appropriate for him to seek public office and organizations still endorse him after it’s pretty clear this is not the kind of guy you should trust with your house keys, much less to run our government.

    We need to have some standards for ourselves and quit justifying being the victims of corrupt leaders seeking to line their own pockets and the pockets of their friends and family members at the expense of the public.

    Even if that’s happening, it’s not supposed to be happening and it’s been illegal for a while. This isn’t normal, it’s just been the cycle we’ve been trapped in for decades.

    Comment by Candy Dogood Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 10:07 am

  18. ===How many House Speakers in this country are using their political clout to try to…===

    *Corrupt Speakers from Ohio, New York, and Alabama enter the chat*

    Corruption should not be tolerated, it should be rooted out, indicted, and if proven, convicted

    If all that is going to happen is this Trib Edit Board wallowing without “looking around and realizing” that other states… New York list an AG and Governor… corruption and scandal are outside the myopic need to feel an Illinois self-loathing.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 10:17 am

  19. Keep your head in the sand, Candy. I know it helps you sleep at night believing that the rest of the country isn’t as bad as you believe we are here. I am sure you have heard of this one:

    https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdoh/pr/federal-grand-jury-indicts-ohio-house-speaker-enterprise-federal-public-corruption

    And that is just one example. There are plenty more - I just don’t have the time to compile them all. Maybe that is something that Rich can do for the benefit of his readers - some of which live in fantasyland.

    Comment by Hannibal Lecter Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 10:22 am

  20. ===Corruption is and has been a problem in Illinois.===

    Who exactly said it isn’t?

    The FBI has its largest anti-corruption bureau… in Illinois…

    The mere fact that it’s ignored that other states have corrupted pols and those are dismissed to have this negative want of Illinois… that’s Chicago Trib Edit board silly.

    ===lowest state bond ratings===

    Then you support Pritzker over the valor stealing Sullivan, as Pritzker has moved our credit rating positive, and possibly positive again…

    … of course embarrassingly ridiculous ideas that the credit raisings are a measure of, frankly, anything when they don’t take into account constitutions or legalities within statute… that’s just pure lazy IPI type analysis

    Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 10:23 am

  21. Agree we need to not slip into “Illinois self-loathing”
    We do need to start voting to get the kind of government that a great state like Illinois should have.

    Comment by Back to the Future Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 10:27 am

  22. === We do need to start voting to get the kind of government that a great state like Illinois should have. ===

    And who would we vote for to save this great state from itself? The 9 people that wanted to screw over a selective enrollment high school in a working class neighborhood with a need for improved educational opportunities without calling the representatives in those communities to get their take first?

    I don’t think I have ever been so cynical about politics and it isn’t just because of the “bad actors” that we hear about in the news. Its those self-promoting grandstanders that tell me that it is not about a better government - its simply about creating a better image for themselves.

    Comment by Hannibal Lecter Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 10:33 am

  23. And if I sound bitter about it, I am. I have family that attends that school that the 9 wanted to de-fund.

    Comment by Hannibal Lecter Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 10:35 am

  24. Surprised to say this, but Candy I completely agree with you. The notion that every other state is as corrupt as IL is just deflecting. It’s like the speeder who says “well everyone is else was speeding too”. Everyone knew forever and ever that Madigan was dirty, but they stood by him because of fear and to benefit themselves. Kudos to the brave 19.

    Comment by Deputy Sheriff Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 10:37 am

  25. === “At no point were we pressured about doing business with anybody,” [Raul Raymundo, longtime chief executive officer for The Resurrection Project] emphasized. ===

    I really don’t understand the Feds case here. Did Resurrection hire the firm?

    What Blago did was clearly wrong — holding up grants for a hospital to pressure them into a campaign donation, but that does not appear to be the case here.

    Comment by Where Is The Beef Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 10:38 am

  26. Might I add, unaddressed behavior is condoned behavior.

    Comment by Deputy Sheriff Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 10:38 am

  27. === It’s like the speeder who says “well everyone is else was speeding too”. ===

    C’mon Deputy… everyone else IS speeding too!

    Comment by Hannibal Lecter Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 10:42 am

  28. I think in Illinois we seem to have a self fulfilling prophecy when it comes to corruption. Of course this is happening everywhere. When Rita Crundwell does it in Dixon, Illinois it’s a national story because it happened in Illinois. If Jane Smith does the same thing in Chillicothe, Ohio, it’s just a local story.

    Comment by Steve Rogers Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 10:42 am

  29. ===The notion that every other state is as corrupt as IL is just deflecting.===

    Not one person, including me, has said that. Of course your grasp of comprehending that is missed.

    The self-loathing and this idea that Illinois is on this island of corruption… ok, where is this Utopia that Illinois needs to look at and try to mirror?

    As you talk about flaunting masking at your workplace and not wanting it “exposed”, maybe you’re using the unused masks to blindly ignore that corruption in… Ohio… New York… where those Speakers face(d) indictment… or Alabama… bipartisanship in these folks too.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 10:44 am

  30. === unaddressed behavior is condoned behavior===

    … says an admitted law enforcement officer during mask mandates and applauded his/her co-workers not wearing masks.

    Arbitrary enforcement?

    Corruption is not “embraced, acceptable, condoned” as those would like to want to believe, if you see that corruption, call the FBI, the USA said they have a hotline… use it.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 10:48 am

  31. @Oswego

    What does this conversation about Madigan have to do with masking? I didn’t even reference any of your comments. I simply stated I agreed with Candy. Not for one instance am I ignoring the indictments in those other states, nor do I believe in a utopia. However, to minimize the fact that IL has serious, serious public corruption problems and to write it off as the “norm” or act as if we are no different than many other states, is ludicrous.

    The IL Dem party enabled Madigan forever. He enables them. Again, unaddressed behavior is condoned behavior.

    And don’t worry, we all survived without our masks….

    Comment by Deputy Sheriff Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 10:49 am

  32. === What does this conversation about Madigan have to do with masking?===

    You told on yourself…

    === unaddressed behavior is condoned behavior===

    You appreciate the idea to “overlook” things, even in your job.

    I find that comical.

    ===we all survived without our masks….===

    … the close to a million US deaths disagree with that idea of survival.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 10:52 am

  33. ===However, to minimize the fact that IL has serious, serious public corruption problems and to write it off as the “norm” or act as if we are no different than many other states, is ludicrous.===

    Not one person called it a norm, not a one.

    Those federally indicted in other states actually don’t care where… Ohio, New York, Alabama… fit in any scale… the want to *be* the worst is the idea I find embarrassing, since presumed innocent is a thing, and you’d think “support law enforcement” folks would applaud all those getting “caught”… isn’t that what is suppose to happen… trials, and possible convictions?

    Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 10:56 am

  34. == since presumed innocent is a thing, and you’d think “support law enforcement” folks would applaud all those getting “caught”… isn’t that what is suppose to happen… trials, and possible convictions? ==

    We agree there, I most definitely support that. I have faith in the system, believe whole-heartedly in the right to trial. You’ll get no argument from me there. It’s the very foundation of our society.

    Comment by Deputy Sheriff Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 11:00 am

  35. The Dem archilles heal always seem to be the insurance scams. Daley/ Dunn/ Siegel and now Madigan- easy way to hide political horse trading as everyone needs insurance and it’s easy to hide - want something done go see my kid about your insurance

    Comment by Sue Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 11:03 am

  36. =What does this conversation about Madigan have to do with masking?=

    When you admit that you selectively enforce the law, you lose your “law and order” cred. At best that approach is hypocritical and at worst it is a form of corruption.

    You do not have a legal right to pic and choose the righteousness of laws and neither did Madigan.

    It is the same boat and my favorite small town hypocrisy. When a small town pol helps their brother in law get a job with the local department of public works that he isn’t qualified for it is no different than Madigan’s scam for friends and family.

    Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 11:49 am

  37. (Knowing nod to - JS Mill -)

    Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 11:58 am

  38. I agree about insurance, Sue
    This is hardly confined to the Dems, however.

    Comment by low level Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 11:59 am

  39. JS Mill with the “Friends and Family” reference. You may not realize how ironic that statement is but very good. Very good indeed.

    Comment by low level Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 12:03 pm

  40. @JSMill

    Where did I ever say I selectively enforced the law or advocated for such?

    Again — state’s attorney’s all over the state (including our own) stated there was no enforcement mechanism. If you disagree, please cite the specific statute that law enforcement could’ve used to take action.

    Comment by Deputy Sheriff Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 12:20 pm

  41. Furthermore, I can’t help but feel this conversation has morphed into what it has to deflect the conversation away from the enabling of Madigan by most everyone in his party….

    Comment by Deputy Sheriff Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 12:24 pm

  42. ===Where did I ever say I selectively enforced the law===

    You discussed and celebrated no mask wearing at the “county you won’t name”. Your decision to ignore the governor’s mandate, and your capacity in law enforcement, you don’t recognize the governor’s authority, judges did.

    For me, to bring this back…

    Corruption caught, indicted, tried, and either convicted or exonerated, the self-loathing to Illinois, if one can’t appreciate that criminal activity is being caught and leading to trials, then what exactly will appease you, since other places are doing the same thing… when corruption is found, indictments happen, including THREE other Speakers in THREE other states…

    It also goes back to GHR.

    Why? Easy.

    George Ryan’s own sentence was suppose to give pause to any politician after him, “a lesson”, a deterrent to others, and a learning to not want to do criminal things.

    Rod got the sentence he got… because of a lack of learning as discussed, and Rod’s own defiance in the face of overwhelming evidence.

    It’s all that, with GHR… then there’s the decades of Vrdolyak, Burke, Madigan… if all this corruption was so obvious, no one turned on them… “until now”, until it was easier to find, until old ways were usurped by 21st century… technology, (emails, texts, etc) and mores (fortune 500 companies like Burger King, ComEd) that other actors can’t justify… like Rich pointed out about the “mob shaking down a coffee shop”… it’s not the same racket or the same ways to swing rackets either.

    The self-loathing is tiring. Celebrate justice when found, let justice exonerate the innocent, allow justice to be served to the guilty.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 12:34 pm

  43. Those of you bangin on Candy are missing her point. Yes, other states have corrupt politicians, but none with pervasiveness and longevity of Madigan’s operation. 40 years? A whole lot of people, including voters of a particular persuasion, turned a blind eye to MM’s corruption, thereby sanctioning it. So good bit of self loathing, if not outright shame is called for. And I will second the notion that the more government you have the more corruption will occur. Illinois has more government bodies than any other state so our reputation is well earned. Hate to be a spelunker for misery, but in Illinois you don’t have to go deep into the cave to find it.

    Comment by Captain Obvious Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 12:40 pm

  44. It also goes back to GHR

    Let’s not leave out Rosty, Gerald Ford on Dan Rostenkowski …

    “Danny’s problem was he played precisely under the rules of the city of Chicago. Now, those aren’t the same rules that any other place in the country lives by, but in Chicago they were totally legal, and Danny got a screwing”

    Comment by Donnie Elgin Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 12:48 pm

  45. ATT 22 G network

    Comment by Rabid Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 12:48 pm

  46. @OW

    I agree with your take on justice and the changing of times etc. But again I ask how was I or anyone else to enforce the “mask mandate”? Not one person has yet to provide me with an enforcement mechanism…. Because it doesn’t exist. JB knew it didn’t either.

    Comment by Deputy Sheriff Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 12:55 pm

  47. - Deputy Sheriff -

    You’re quite dense. You chose and others chose that you worked with to not wear masks, celebrated it, then didn’t want to disclose where they was.

    If you knew it was right, why all the posturing to be “defiant” or choosing not to follow it, let alone any enforcement.

    Your choosing is your hypocrisy, your ignoring is the arbitrary look at rules.

    Ask, answered, I’ve moved on.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 1:02 pm

  48. The activities that have been commonplace for decades border on an organized crime syndicate. Equally disappointing is that those who participated did not understand that the corruption is wrong.

    Those who called it out consistently were mocked as naive lightweights. This should never, ever, be confused with the reality that they were right all along.

    Honest, competent individuals who are truly in it for noble reasons do exist. We simply seem shocked when they stand up and do the right thing. It need not be the exception.

    Bully’s have been prevalent since the beginning of time. It is OK to celebrate when they, instead of we, get kicked in the nuts.

    Comment by Just Why? Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 1:26 pm

  49. == So what changed? Why did Madigan all of a sudden become unacceptable? It sure wasn’t the threat of a federal indictment. It was the Me Too movement. It was women finally standing up for themselves. Good for them. I’m just sorry it took so many years for Madigan to finally be shown the door. ==

    This reflects a lack of knowledge about Springfield and Madigan’s caucus. Hindsight shows the Me Too movement had very little impact. If MeToo was responsible they would have ousted Madigan in 2020. The real threat was the damage a Madigan indictment or corruption link would cause to members. The pleas by Solis and ComEd gave the caucus the ability to coalesce and deny Madigan another term. It was entirely the work of federal prosecutors and the members who stuck together.

    To claim otherwise is to kid yourself or take credit for the job done by federal prosecutors and the caucus.

    Comment by opinions opinions Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 2:14 pm

  50. ===The real threat was the damage a Madigan indictment or corruption link would cause to members.===

    Which exactly of The 19 had a fear of any eventuality of an indictment?

    Things that became apparent?

    The 19 wholly and solely agreed on ONE thing… Madigan as Speaker was a non-starter.

    There was no speaker candidate for The 19, no list of demands all 19 agreed on, heck, even their letter was crafted to indicate The 19 are rock solid on one thing, not voting for Madigan… their reasons could, for sake of argument and their letter, be 19 different reasons.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 2:18 pm

  51. == enabling of Madigan by most everyone in his party….==

    Nonsense. While there may have been rumors or suggestions of wrongdoing, there was nothing concrete. When the ComEd DPA and fine came out, members of his party moved forward to deny him another term.

    Before then, Madigan was viewed as hyper focused on detail to avoid impropriety.

    Comment by low level Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 2:58 pm

  52. ===*Corrupt Speakers from Ohio, New York, and Alabama enter the chat*===

    You missed Iowa, OW.

    https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/investigations/2018/10/14/iowa-capitol-legislature-sexual-harassment-me-too-depositions-lawmakers-porn-senate-kirsten-anderson/1187425002/

    But the point I was wanting to make is that the number is fewer than 49. I am not so naive to believe that everywhere else is free of corruption, but I don’t think anyone cares how many of their spouse’s friends cheat on their partner when they discover their spouse is cheating on them.

    There are 12 million of us that have been paying for the cost of the corruption of a narrow segment of the population and voting the right way or writing checks to the wright political figures shouldn’t be a requirement to obtain public goods and civil services. And it certainly shouldn’t be the way to get a job, whether it’s in the public sector or the private sector.

    We continue to be embarrassed by people that continue this illegal acts under the mast head of the State of Illinois and we shouldn’t tolerate it. They’ve shown what their priorities are, and it’s not the People of Illinois.

    Comment by Candy Dogood Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 4:08 pm

  53. - Candy Dogood -

    Friend, Alabama, New York, and Ohio speakers weren’t marital issues. Ohio’s scandal mirrors Madigan in many facets.

    I can’t find anyone who wants corruption in Illinois except the corrupt themselves… the USA has been busy, and sometimes cleaning house, even in the House, might allow a reset to a more less corrupt time.

    Self-loathing of Illinois won’t do any of that.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 4:15 pm

  54. What I always thought was interesting was the division of roll calls on big bills. When major entities would drop contracts the first question was—and is—who can you talk to? Why are you different then these other 5 people I might hire. Makes sense. When breaking out a roll call you want to cover as many members as possible. And yet so many times with MJM the same people got hired who all knew the same people. Maybe someone with the power to act on it noticed.

    Comment by Galway Bay Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 4:18 pm

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