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* Press release…
House Speaker Michael J. Madigan released the following statement Thursday:
The indictment returned Wednesday does not allege any criminal misconduct on my part. I have not been accused of or charged with any wrongdoing.After a lengthy investigation, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has charged, but of course has not proven, that certain ComEd employees, consultants, and lobbyists allegedly conspired with one another in the hope of somehow influencing me in my official capacity. Let me be clear: if that attempt ever happened, it was never made known to me. If it had been known to me, it would have been profoundly unwelcome. Nothing in either this indictment or in the earlier filings by the U.S. Attorney’s Office alleges otherwise. In addition, nothing in this indictment or in the earlier filings alleges that I did anything in my official capacity related to ComEd’s legislative agenda as a result of whatever internal decisions ComEd made or didn’t make. Any such allegation would be false. If there was an attempt to influence me in my official capacity, it failed, although knowing most of the people who were charged, I doubt there was any scheme as characterized by the government.
To the extent that anyone at ComEd or Exelon believed they could influence my conduct as a legislator by hiring someone I may have recommended, who worked for me, or who did political work for me, they were fundamentally mistaken. If they even harbored the thought that they could bribe or influence me, they would have failed miserably. I take offense at any notion otherwise. To the extent anyone may have suggested to others that I could be influenced, then they, too, were wrong. Had I known about it, I would have made every effort to put a stop to it.
The energy legislation cited by the U.S. Attorney’s Office had the broad support of Democratic and Republican members, other legislative leaders, labor supporters, consumer advocates, and environmentalists. The bills could not have passed without such broad support, and they were the product of years of deliberation, negotiations, and consensus building. House Democrats won significant concessions, much to the chagrin of ComEd and Exelon, likely costing the companies millions of dollars in profits, all while acting in the best interests of our constituents and the ratepayers. It cannot be seriously said that my staff or I carried the banner for ComEd or Exelon on these bills. The 2016 FEJA bill, for example, would not have moved but for the intense involvement of Representative Durkin and former Governor Rauner.
I believe a large part of my duty as an elected official is to help people, and I’ve made that a priority since the day I took the oath of office. It has required drastic measures like taking on a billionaire governor bent on destroying unions and eliminating social services programs that our most vulnerable citizens rely on to survive day-to-day. It has also required attention to detail like removing gang graffiti from buildings and garages, connecting residents with services that can help improve their lives, helping students find internships, and recommending qualified people who are seeking employment. Helping people find jobs is not a crime. As I have stated before, I have never helped someone find a job with an expectation that the person would not be asked to perform work by his or her employer. Anyone who has ever worked for or around me knows I value, above all else, hard work and dedication, whether it’s knocking on doors, collecting garbage, or representing a client. I have also never promised, implicitly or explicitly, to take any action benefiting a prospective employer if it should choose to hire a person that I recommended. Nor have I ever recommended someone for a job with an expectation or understanding that the prospective employer would hire that person to reward me for an action it believed I took. I do not inquire into an employer’s rationale for making particular hiring decisions, nor do I treat that employer differently depending on those decisions. This has been my practice for decades.
If there was credible evidence that I had engaged in criminal misconduct, which I most certainly did not, I would be charged with a crime. But I have not, and with good reason because there is nothing wrong or illegal about making job recommendations, regardless of what people inside ComEd may have hoped to achieve from hiring some of the people who were recommended.
Nonetheless, even though I am not alleged to have done anything in my official capacity as Speaker of the House to assist ComEd and have not been accused of any wrongdoing, this investigation has been used as a political weapon by those who seek to have me step down. I anticipate some will be disappointed that I was not a party to this indictment and find it difficult to swallow the fact that I have not been accused of or charged with any wrongdoing. These same individuals will likely claim this indictment should end my tenure as a public official, even though it alleges no criminal conduct on my part, nor does it allege I had knowledge of any criminal conduct by others.
Some individuals have spent millions of dollars and worked diligently to establish a false narrative that I am corrupt and unethical. I have publicly ignored their antics because those who know me and work with me know that this rhetoric is simply untrue. The truth is that I have never engaged in any inappropriate or criminal conduct. Despite baseless speculation alluding to the contrary, I have always gone to great lengths to ensure my conduct is legal and ethical, and any claim to the contrary is patently false. I have always steadfastly worked to build a strong Democratic Party and House Democratic Caucus in an effort to help the hardworking people of Illinois.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Nov 19, 20 @ 9:49 am
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Previous Post: *** UPDATED x4 - Didech joins opposition - Croke won’t vote for MJM - Conroy, Gabel, Moeller and Williams say they won’t be backing Madigan - Guzzardi says he’s a ‘No’ *** Tipping point: Two more House Democrats say they won’t vote to reelect Speaker Madigan
Next Post: “It’s over for the little guy”
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So unusual to see Madigan throwing punches while back peddling.
Comment by Sayitaintso Thursday, Nov 19, 20 @ 9:53 am
Quite a detailed and specific denial … followed by a pivot to remind people of the good stuff he has done.
Regardless of guilt or innocence, have to think MJM is feeling the heat politically.
Comment by RNUG Thursday, Nov 19, 20 @ 9:55 am
I have one simple question.
If the efforts to get people paid positions, internships, contracts, etc were so above board, why did everyone go to such great lengths to try to conceal the purpose of the contracts and the involvement of the Speaker?
If everything that happened was fine, then why was a dude from Quincy, IL dictating the job recommendations for a guy from the South side of Chicago?
Comment by ILPundit Thursday, Nov 19, 20 @ 9:56 am
Actually, that’s 2 questions, but I digress…
Comment by ILPundit Thursday, Nov 19, 20 @ 9:57 am
Caterpillar, Caterpillar, Caterpillar. Beware the yellow beast and the investigation their former counsel, United States Attorney General William Barr, halted.
Comment by Candy Dogood Thursday, Nov 19, 20 @ 9:57 am
Do you hear that?
thats the sound of millions of dollars of democrat PAC money being rerouted to Speaker Madigan’s defense fund.
going kicking and screaming is just so sad.
Comment by Rick Thursday, Nov 19, 20 @ 9:58 am
Well there you go, game set match, he says he’s innocent so he must be innocent. I believe him I really do but I’m not sure the FEDS do.
Comment by Hard D Thursday, Nov 19, 20 @ 10:00 am
He’s still very carefully. NOT denying that he expected that the people Com Ed hired on his recommendation would do political work for him.— and that Com Ed knew that.
Madigan was using Com Ed to get around Shakman and Rutan. Whether or not that violated any criminal statute, that is important.
Comment by Keyrock Thursday, Nov 19, 20 @ 10:01 am
== - Keyrock - Thursday, Nov 19, 20 @ 10:01 am:
Madigan was using Com Ed to get around Shakman and Rutan. Whether or not that violated any criminal statute, that is important. ==
Huh? Neither of those apply to ComEd
Comment by the law Thursday, Nov 19, 20 @ 10:11 am
Even if all that MJM said were true, the operative question is not simply legal guilt or innocence, but includes what the voting public believes and will push their elected officials to do.
Nobody ever said politics was fair.
Comment by walker Thursday, Nov 19, 20 @ 10:18 am
…I am not a thief!….
Comment by Jo Jo Monkeyboy Thursday, Nov 19, 20 @ 10:21 am
It seems like something the kid in the neighborhood with the pool in his backyard would say when he is told that kids are nice to him because he has a pool.
“If anyone thought they could get access to my pool by being nice to me, making sure I got a good seat at the movies and my sister won at checkers was sadly mistaken”
Yeah, all these people do things without any intention of influencing you.
Comment by OneMan Thursday, Nov 19, 20 @ 10:25 am
Well Written
(Time Will Test It’s Validity )
Comment by Red Ketcher Thursday, Nov 19, 20 @ 10:29 am
The law - Exactly my point. Let me explain it more clearly.
The Speaker couldn’t legally get jobs for his political workers in the old way because of Shakman and Rutan, so he used a new way. He leaned on Com Ed to hire them.
He used the power of his official position to build his political army by getting jobs for his workers. He doesn’t deny that - he just denies that it was in exchange for particular official action.
The law is clear that using public dollars to pay the workers of your political army is unconstitutional (except for policy making positions). He’s been working on the theory that “asking” a private employer (with a business regulated by the state) to hire his political army is legal and ethical. He’s still sticking with that position. But people aren’t agreeing.
Comment by Keyrock Thursday, Nov 19, 20 @ 10:32 am
=== OneMan - Thursday, Nov 19, 20 @ 10:25 am===
While I think the Speaker made a powerful (if a bit too long) response, I think your analogy is apt. And at what point is someone responsible for letting people think they can influence him/her, even if (perhaps) they don’t actually have an influence? Those bill review meetings aren’t just with the Speaker…
At this point it seems like the law might not be up to the task of full accountability (no charges even in this release?), but maybe public opinion is.
Comment by Leslie K Thursday, Nov 19, 20 @ 10:34 am
I’m not sure that the “I like helping people“ defense is going to work. How house members can still stand by him in the middle of all of this is breathtaking. What else will it take for them to say, enough?
Comment by Shytown Thursday, Nov 19, 20 @ 10:35 am
Should have kept it short, sweet and memorable
I am not a crook would have sufficed
Comment by Lucky Pierre Thursday, Nov 19, 20 @ 10:54 am
The fact that a leadership election is still close under these circumstances is kind of hilarious and very Illinois
Comment by TaxTheMemes Thursday, Nov 19, 20 @ 11:00 am
Talk about a low bar even for Illinois standards. You should maintain Speakership so long as you are not indicted. Morals, ethics, and people you keep in your circle nothing to do with me or my position of power which influences the direction of the state. The dang CEO of McDonalds was fired for a consensual relationship last year. Shouldn’t politicians especially political “leaders” i.e. the Speaker be held to a higher standard? This dude is a complete narcissist.
Comment by 1st Ward Thursday, Nov 19, 20 @ 11:00 am
Whenever I sit and read about this ComEd and all the emissaries that are now under the USA eyes, I often think of the dinner conversation between Tom Hagen and Jack Woltz, or Vito Corleone and Amerigo Bonasera.
Comment by 618er Thursday, Nov 19, 20 @ 11:03 am
If nothing else, Madigan is 78 years old. It’s time somebody sat him down and made him come up with an exit strategy. Choose your successor or have them chosen for you and you’re not going to like the latter(See:Ginsburg).
Comment by justaguy02 Thursday, Nov 19, 20 @ 11:10 am
If we’re going to toss around movie scene analogies, my take on The Speaker’s statement would be from the prison scenes in Watchmen when new inmate Rorschach dispatches a would-be assassin in a very violent flash, and then tells the entire cafeteria full of cons:
“None of you seem to understand…I’m not locked in here with You… you’re locked in here with =Me=.”
Comment by Give Us Barabbas Thursday, Nov 19, 20 @ 11:13 am
The best way I can describe that press release is
un-Madigan-ish
Comment by Lurker Thursday, Nov 19, 20 @ 11:14 am
Isn’t it the job of lobbyists to influence legislators to vote their way or kill legislation unfavorable to their client? How ComEd did that seems to be the big question here.
As we’ve all seen on Law & Order, prosecutors get the smaller fish to flip on the bigger fish for reduced sentences.
We’ll have to wait and see if this latest catch of fish need to do any flipping.
Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Thursday, Nov 19, 20 @ 11:37 am
Long statement for the speaker. Sounds like he is digging his heals in for a street fight
Comment by Red ghetto in a blue state Thursday, Nov 19, 20 @ 11:38 am
==- 1st Ward - Thursday, Nov 19, 20 @ 11:00 am:==
The CEO of McDonald’s was fired for covering up a relationship with subordinates and using HR to squash the investigation, which included using corporate email accounts to send and receive sexually explicit photographs.
Comment by Google Is Your Friend Thursday, Nov 19, 20 @ 11:39 am
Any Union going to turn off the tap? Contributions to Friends of Michael J Madigan All just on 11/2/20:
AFSCME $115K
IBEW Illinois $57.8K
Teamsters Local $25K
UAW Illinois Pac $75K
Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters $100K
Comment by midway gardens Thursday, Nov 19, 20 @ 11:40 am
== If we’re going to toss around movie scene analogies, my take on The Speaker’s statement would be from==
I was thinking more the raid on Rick’s Cafe in Casablanca. Nothing legal goes on there, everyone knows it, then when outside authorities show up the supposed local authority, who benefits from it all, has to feign shock and outrage.
Comment by fs Thursday, Nov 19, 20 @ 11:42 am
I’m not as sophisticated as you all. For me, it brings to mind Officer Barbrady from South Park. “Move along, nothing to see here, move along you looky-loos” Whenever there was clearly some catastrophe happening.
Comment by McLeanist Thursday, Nov 19, 20 @ 11:49 am
That’s longer than a Pritzker staffer tweet rant.
Comment by Sonny Thursday, Nov 19, 20 @ 11:56 am
@Google is your Friend - He wasn’t indicted. Actually, no one was indicted. No crime was committed. HR did the dirty work like Madigan associates. Sad day when McDonalds ethical standards are higher than State Government. This is what we are as a State. This is the Bar that has been set. Also, Easterbrook consensual relationship Mike McClain covered up a non-consensual one. See the difference.
Comment by 1st Ward Thursday, Nov 19, 20 @ 12:07 pm
I guess we should all give thanks this Thanksgiving that we’ve had MJM looking out for us all this time. He’s actually been saving us from things we couldn’t hope to understand, while others have been pretending he was involved in the back room dealings that coincidentally always benefitted his campaign organization. Who’d of thought?
Comment by Lincoln Lad Thursday, Nov 19, 20 @ 12:17 pm
“Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain”. MJM pulled lots of wires (pun intended) to get his friends into Convict Edison in various quid pro quos. The only thing he didn’t say is about giving poor kids Christmas presents, or feeding the old folks at Thanksgiving. Meanwhile his power base (kinda pun intended) is crumbling as his “friends” sing like sparrows to the Feds.
Comment by thisjustinagain Thursday, Nov 19, 20 @ 12:55 pm
How is everyone so sure folks are singing?
I guess we’ll see on the 2nd when pleas are made?
Comment by Frank talks Thursday, Nov 19, 20 @ 4:37 pm