ComEd May Be in the Hot Seat Next Week
Commonwealth Edison CEO Joe Dominguez.
It appears at least one official from utility giant Commonwealth Edison will appear before a Special Investigative Committee in the Illinois House next week. The committee is set for its first substantive hearing in its probe into powerful House Speaker Michael Madigan’s role in a wide-ranging federal bribery case against ComEd.
In a letter to committee chairman Rep. Emanuel Chris Welch (D-Hillside) yesterday, House Republican Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) wrote an official from ComEd had agreed to appear before the committee. A ComEd spokesman did not return a message from the Illinoize to confirm the contents of the letter, or if ComEd CEO Joe Dominguez would appear before the committee. Dominguez has previously testified in front of the Illinois Commerce Commission and Chicago City Council since the utility agreed to a “Deferred Prosecution Agreement” with federal prosecutors that included a $200 million fine.
UPDATE (12:58 P.M.)
ComEd Spokesman Paul Elsberg says the utility will appear at the hearing:
“ComEd has pledged to respect the legislative process that has been initiated and accepted the invitation to provide testimony at the hearing next week. David Glockner, executive vice president, Compliance and Audit for ComEd’s Exelon parent, will appear at the hearing.”
Durkin requested to give an opening statement at the hearing next Tuesday and for his attorney, former federal prosecutor Ron Safer, for the opportunity to question ComEd’s representative at the hearing.
Welch did not return a call seeking comment. Welch had previously sent invitations to testify to Madigan, former State Representative turned lobbyist Mike McClain, a top Madigan confidante, lobbyist and former City Club of Chicago President Jay Doherty, and former Chicago alderman and Madigan ally Michael Zalewski, among others. (Disclosure: I am a former City Club member but have not met Mr. Doherty.)
It’s still not clear if any other witnesses will appear voluntarily or if the committee will approve subpoenas. The committee is split evenly between Republicans and Democrats and would require at least one Democrat to split from the Speaker to issue subpoenas.
The hearing is scheduled for next Tuesday at 2pm at the State Capitol.