Fireworks Possible at Madigan Hearing
House Republican Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) speaks at a news conference at the Statehouse in February. Rep. Tom Demmer (R-Dixon), the top Republican on the House Special Investigative Committee, is on the right. (SOURCE: Illinois Public Media)
House Speaker Michael Madigan has said he won’t voluntarily testify before a House Committee investigating him, but a top official with utility giant Commonwealth Edison is expected to testify today.
The Special Investigative Committee was formed by House Republicans in response to ComEd’s Deferred Prosecution Agreement with federal prosecutors that implicated Madigan’s role in a long-running bribery scheme.
ComEd confirmed to The Illinoize Friday that David Glockner, Executive Vice President for Compliance and Audit will appear before the committee this afternoon.
What has become the latest point of contention, though, seems to be what the committee will be able to ask witnesses. In a letter to potential witnesses last week, committee chairman Rep. Emanuel Chris Welch (D-Hillside) said the committee would not ask for non-public information to be revealed by witnesses.
But Rep. Tom Demmer (R-Dixon), the top Republican on the panel, says Republicans didn’t believe that was the direction given by U.S. Attorney John Lausch. Lausch confirmed in a letter the U.S. Attorney’s Office didn’t object to non-public information being revealed during the House investigation.
Demmer says witnesses can shed more light than what is found in the Deferred Prosecution Agreement.
“We’d like to hear more of the story,” said Demmer. “[We want] to understand the level of people’s involvement was in some of those actions. That’s the point of calling in witnesses.”
Meanwhile, Welch reportedly sent a letter to Durkin Monday he could not participate in questioning or make statements but could be called as a witness after Madigan alleged Durkin played a large role in passing a ComEd supported piece of legislation in 2016.
Durkin fired back at Welch.
“It is clear that Chairman Welch is not well-versed on the proceedings of an investigatory committee, as he needed a phone call and two letters from U.S. Attorney Lausch after repeatedly misinterpreting his guidance.,” said Durkin in a statement. “Furthermore, Rep. Manley was already allowed to question me on the veracity of the petition and the charges in the previous committee hearing. Under my rights as not only the petitioner but also as a member of the General Assembly, I will be making an opening statement tomorrow and questioning the confirmed witness, Commonwealth Edison, on the admitted facts laid out in the petition against Michael J. Madigan. See you there!”
Welch did not return a message from The Illinoize. Neither of the other two Democrats on the committee, Rep. Natalie Manley (D-Shorewood) and Rep. Elizabeth Hernandez (D-Cicero) returned our calls Monday.
Demmer, meanwhile, said he and Welch seem to be at odds on many key issues.
“We’ve had a few instances in which the Chairman and I have had a different understanding of what our limitations should be,” Demmer said diplomatically. “It seems that he has talked quite a bit about how we shouldn’t do certain things for fear of complicating the federal investigation. The difference is, we have been given the green light on a number of items by the U.S. Attorney’s office.”
Demmer wouldn’t go as far as to say Democrats on the committee were putting up roadblocks for Madigan, but to remind calls for Madigan to testify are bipartisan.
“Prominent Republicans and prominent Democrats have said these are very troubling facts that were admitted by ComEd,” he said. “We need to understand who was involved and how to hold individuals accountable. There’s interest by both parties in having an investigation that’s thorough and complete.”
Demmer says issuing subpoenas for Madigan and others “on the table.” Though, there is no guarantee any Democrats would join Republicans to issue a subpoena.
What may add an additional layer of drama to the issue, the Chicago Tribune reports former top ComEd lobbyist executive Fidel Marquez is expected to appear in federal court and plead guilty on bribery charges today.
Depending on how interactions between Welch, Durkin, and Demmer go this afternoon, the public may get a preview of just how “thorough and complete” the committee will be.