Moments of Division Spark First Day of Committee Investigating Madigan
Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) and GOP Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) shake hands at the House Inauguration in January. Durkin filed the petition to investigate Madigan’s role in the ComEd bribery scheme.
First and foremost, the top Democrat and top Republican on the special committee investigating House Speaker Michael Madigan’s role in the Commonwealth Edison criminal probe say they agree U.S. Attorney John Lausch needs to be consulted before there is further testimony. Rep. Emanuel Chris Welch (D-Hillside) and Rep. Tom Demmer (R-Dixon) agree Lausch should be part of the process.
That’s about where the agreement between the two parties stopped.
In a 32-minute hearing at the State Capitol Thursday morning, Democrats and Republicans on the evenly-split six person committee seemed divided on everything from what kind of documents and testimony the committee should ask for to what the speaker may have played a role in was a crime.
“Integrity of the committee requires due process,” said Welch, who is considered by most to be a Madigan ally.
The committee was forced by House Republican Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) utilizing a rarely used House rule to launch the special committee, and Democrats didn’t seem like willing participants at times.
Rep. Natalie Manley (D-Joliet) asked Durkin’s attorney, Ron Safer, if Madigan’s role in the deferred prosecution agreement between the U.S. Attorney and ComEd even constituted crimes.
“The crimes described in DPA are a bribery scheme, extortion scheme, a conspiracy to violate state and federal law, among other misconduct,” he said, reminding Manley ComEd admitted to the charges.
Safer reminded members the goal of the committee is not to decide if Madigan committed crimes.
“The charge for this body is to decide whether the Speaker has acted in conduct unbecoming of a Representative,” he said.
Rep. Deanne Mazzochi (R-Elmhurst) presented prepared letters asking for voluntary disclosure of documents and invitations for testimony.
Welch entered the documents into the record but said he wouldn’t authorize sending the requests until speaking to the U.S. Attorney.
“We have very little precedent to go by,” said Welch, indicating he wanted guidance from Lausch.
Republicans like Rep. Grant Wehrli (R-Naperville) criticized Welch for not moving forward with witnesses and documents.
“It is wholly appropriate this committee gives those individuals and corporations time to gather their information,” he said. “If what we are charged in doing here is [being] committed to finding the truth and facts, this is something we should all be interested in. Instead of going down the subpoena route, we wanted to begin with a voluntary letter.”
Welch ended the meeting moments later.
Mazzochi pressed Welch on when the committee would meet again, Welch said he would await guidance from the U.S. Attorney.