Madigan Won’t Testify Willingly Before Investigative Committee
House Speaker Michael Madigan, left, with House Republican Leader Jim Durkin before a debate in the Illinois House on raising the statewide minimum wage in 2019. (Source: Chicago Tribune)
Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan sent a letter to members of the House Special Investigative Committee today saying he won’t testify in the committee’s inquiry into his role in a Commonwealth Edison bribery scheme.
Madigan has been under fire since being outed as “Public Official A” in the Deferred Prosecution Agreement between federal prosecutors and ComEd. ComEd also agreed to a $200 million fine in the deal.
In the letter, Madigan says he will not testify because of limits placed on testimony by U.S. Attorney for Chicago John Lausch.
“I do not believe I can provide testimony before the Committee at this time,” wrote the Speaker. “…the fact remains this Committee has neither the resources nor the ability to recreate a multi-year federal investigation. Nor do I believe that this Committee will be able to gain access to all of the information and testimony it would need for a complete and accurate understand of the facts and issues underlying the [Deferred Prosecution Agreement].”
Madigan criticized Republican Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs), who filed the petition to launch the investigation, calling the action “nothing more than a political stunt motivated by a transparent political agenda.”
“The federal investigation is more important than Mr. Durkin’s political theatrics,” wrote Madigan. “I cannot in good conscience take any action that may in any way interfere with a federal investigation.”
Madigan wrote in his letter he is not exercising his Fifth Amendment rights not to testify, meaning lawmakers could still subpoena him to appear. That action is unlikely though as it would require one Democrat to break with Madigan to vote with Republicans. Two of the Democrats on the Committee are on Madigan’s leadership team and chairman Emanuel Chris Welch (D-Hillside) chairs the powerful House Executive Committee, a spot usually given to a close Madigan ally.
Madigan also threw an accusation at Durkin, claiming Durkin had “intense involvement” in a major piece of ComEd legislation in 2016.
UPDATE (7:04) P.M.:
Durkin responded Friday night critical of Madigan’s refusal to testify:
“Speaker Madigan continues to take the path that his own House Rules apply to all except him. The House Democrats and Governor Pritzker must step up and demand answers about Madigan’s involvement in Com'Ed’s admission of guilt in a bribery scheme lasting nine years.”