Durkin on Madigan: "I Feel a Sense of Vindication"
Former House Republican Leader Jim Durkin.
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Former House Republican Leader Jim Durkin, who raised alarm for years over former House Speaker Michael Madigan and his potentially criminal ties to Commonwealth Edison said he feels “vindication,” following the convictions of the so-called “ComEd Four” on bribery charges.
Durkin resigned from the House in January following an electoral beating in 2022 that left Republicans with just 40 seats in the House.
Speaking on our The Illinoize podcast this week (see below), Durkin, a former Assistant Attorney General and Cook County prosecutor said while the evidence was strong, the guilty verdict on all counts was unforeseen.
“I was surprised, but it was expected,” he said. “The evidence which was presented was very strong, it was very powerful. Also, I think the defendants did not do themselves any favors when they went on the stand and they were tripped up with their own statements from videotapes and also from wiretaps.”
Durkin, who battled with Madigan over ethics during his seven-plus years as Leader, said the verdict is terrible news for the formerly most powerful person in Illinois politics.
“I do feel a certain sense of vindication from this verdict, but it’s not something I, nor anybody, should really feel proud of,” he said. “It’s just, what is Springfield going to do in light of this? If there was ever a time to react in a thoughtful and meaningful way, this is the time to do it.”
Durkin says he hopes the legislature moves on meaningful ethics reform, though he doubts Democrats take it up.
“If the legislature is not able to accomplish any type of meaningful policing action against itself, that is why you have a U.S. Attorney’s office and you get results like [Tuesday.]”
Durkin says he believes the verdict is bad foreshadowing for former Speaker Madigan, who is set to go on trial next year.
“It’s terrible,” Durkin said. “Mike Madigan’s case is getting worse.”
Durkin says convincing a jury to understand the difference between traditional lobbying and illegal bribes was the key to the ComEd case, and will likely also be center stage if the Madigan case goes to trial in 2024.
Here’s the podcast featuring Durkin: