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* No Madigan subpoena, no Madigan charges. Adjourned…
Good afternoon from Springfield. The House Special Investigating Committee has reconvened to continue their scope into House Speaker Mike Madigan’s involvement in the ComEd bribery scheme. #twill pic.twitter.com/DcXnCuOtEa
— Mike Miletich (@MikeMiletichTV) December 14, 2020
Chairman @RepChrisWelch says he can't believe Republican members of the committee ignored emails showing Durkin's relationship with McClain. Wehrli just made a motion to have ComEd officials come back to testify and clarify answers for the group. Vote: 3-3, Republicans lost.
— Mike Miletich (@MikeMiletichTV) December 14, 2020
Vote to issue subpoenas fails and Republicans are fuming. Wehrli can't believe Democrats wouldn't call for Madigan to appear before the committee. He even refers to the most powerful dark wizard, Voldemort, since Welch wouldn't refer to Speaker Madigan by name.
— Mike Miletich (@MikeMiletichTV) December 14, 2020
After a very lengthy discussion with comments from every member, the committee fails to get enough votes to charge Madigan with wrongdoing. The committee's work is over.
— Mike Miletich (@MikeMiletichTV) December 14, 2020
Republicans start off the postgame press conference obviously upset the final hearing was held today. The committee met three times and only heard from one witness from ComEd. Democrats denied the motion to issue subpoenas to Madigan and key associates. #twill pic.twitter.com/RqjAAVNNnf
— Mike Miletich (@MikeMiletichTV) December 14, 2020
As one on-scene reporter noted to me, the House Republicans started this process by using Madigan’s rules against Madigan and the HDems ended it by using Madigan’s rules against the HGOPs.
I’m assuming we’ll see some press releases.
[Also, typos are inevitable and unfixable on Twitter, so give the guy a break.]
*** UPDATE 1 *** Press release…
State Representative Deanne Mazzochi (R-Elmhurst) released the following statement after the House Special Investigating Committee’s unexpected final hearing:
“One can only assume that my colleagues on the committee vigorously workout, because the hoops that Chairman Welch and his fellow Democrats are jumping through to justify the information in the emails we received from ComEd and the admitted federal deferred prosecution agreement are impressive. Actually beyond impressive and bordering on “hard to believe”.
If you’ve read these emails, the conduct of the Chairman defies belief. Today he once again spent valuable committee time prescribing all of the reasons why a subpoena to acquire witness testimony might not work. He’s apparently creating a justification for not doing anything. So the leader of this House ethics investigation is saying that an investigation is too hard and therefore we shouldn’t do it. Allow that notion to search for logic in your brain; too hard equals, we can’t and shouldn’t.
If, as my colleague Rep. Manley claims, there is nothing untoward about the Speaker’s conduct in his relationship with ComEd, then why won’t he assist the committee in clearing his name? In fact, why wouldn’t he insist on it. Why wouldn’t his allies on the committee who see no untoward behavior want his name fully cleared? An investigative committee is charged with doing all it can to get information relevant to its duty, not shying away from it. It takes neither a lawyer or a soothsayer to connect the dots as to why that isn’t the case with this committee.
This is why people continue to lose faith in the integrity of Illinois government. I don’t blame them for their frustration and their disillusionment. I’m feeling the same way.”
* Another…
Illinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin released the following statement on the abrupt conclusion of the Special Investigating Committee:
“The Democratic Party shows again today there is no limit to the lengths they will go to protect Speaker Madigan. Chairman Welch, Rep. Hernandez and Rep. Manley have turned the rule of law on its head by refusing to investigate the charges and demand the testimony of Speaker Madigan in this scandal. I call on Governor Pritzker to finally demand Speaker Madigan resign as it is clear he refuses to answer any questions about his corrupt practices.”
*** UPDATE 2 *** Press release…
Statement from Speaker Madigan on the conclusion of the Special Investigating Committee:
“Jim Durkin insisted on initiating this political theater, and through this process we’ve come to learn that he was involved in the very conduct he claims to be so offended by – recommending people for various jobs. If Jim Durkin actually believes it is conduct unbecoming of a legislator to recommend people for jobs or help constituents, he might want to review his own hypocritical behavior. Rather than finger pointing, I suggest we focus on the important work that lies ahead of us.”
*** UPDATE 3 *** Press release…
Statement from Eleni Demertzis in response to Madigan:
Public Official A should know this was not about job recommendations. It was about a nine year bribery scheme to bribe and influence Himself and no one else. To date, there have been five indictments and all of these charges lead back to one person, Public Official A.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Dec 14, 20 @ 4:03 pm
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The minute it was clear Durkin himself asked for jobs they lost this. You can’t claim it’s conduct unbecoming a legislator to make job recommendations and do the same thing.
Comment by southsider Monday, Dec 14, 20 @ 4:13 pm
Well, Feds, your turn.
I wonder what letter of Public Official each of these three will eventually get.
Comment by Roadrager Monday, Dec 14, 20 @ 4:13 pm
MJM seems like a real “wolf by the ears” situation for IL Dems.
Comment by TwoCent Ante Monday, Dec 14, 20 @ 4:15 pm
LOL. Federal officers are literally going to have to give the Speaker the full Blago treatment before these Democrats turn on him.
Comment by JB13 Monday, Dec 14, 20 @ 4:16 pm
What an utter failure by Demmer, who now looks terribly weaker and sadder to process.
Wehrli… won’t see him no more.
Durkin showed all who were watching;
Demmer was clueless to how to ask questions and lead, with Durkin orchestrating after the fact.
When push came to shove, Durkin told the committee “I’ll take it from here”, trying to be the one asking questions over Demmer.
I learned a lot.
Demmer is activity… there’s no achievement… like with this committee. It’s the rule, not the exception… with Demmer.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Dec 14, 20 @ 4:20 pm
BtW it is Rep. Hernandez.
Comment by Annonin' Monday, Dec 14, 20 @ 4:22 pm
Well that was a productive use of everyone’s time to arrive at the predictable result.
Comment by Just Me 2 Monday, Dec 14, 20 @ 4:24 pm
Annnd…swept under the rug. Merry Christmas IL! You’re getting this year the same thing you’ve gotten for the last 40.
Comment by Hot chocolate Monday, Dec 14, 20 @ 4:25 pm
I find all of this so entertaining and so Illinois.
Comment by DuPage Saint Monday, Dec 14, 20 @ 4:30 pm
OW - I feel like Demmer must have been riding shotgun in the car the day Tom Cross ran over your dog. J/k
But wasn’t the whole point of this the theater? To get the headline? The tit for tat of “no YOU got perks” never really advanced beyond the under the dome crowd (which admittedly is what this website is all about and for good reason). Commentators talk a lot about the “failed” Fire Madigan effort. But for better or worse, Madigan is persona non grata anywhere outside of his district from a public perspective. If you think the SIC was a failure, I think you misunderstand the role of the minority party in general. If we are talking about the Speaker, then Durkin is winning (the media cycle at least - and dare I say it, the Madigan angle is probably a big reason they did so well this cycle despite Trump and a huge money inbalance.) Look at the House rules. Theater is all the minority party has. We are in a deep blue state, and that isn’t going to change anytime soon.
Comment by Amber Ale Monday, Dec 14, 20 @ 4:39 pm
=== Commentators talk a lot about the “failed” Fire Madigan effort. But for better or worse, Madigan is persona non grata anywhere outside of his district from a public perspective. If you think the SIC was a failure===
Narrator… it was a +1 seat gain, Wehrli lost too
===I think you misunderstand the role of the minority party in general.===
To perpetually be in the minority?
The goal is to win races, not be +1… while solidifying downstate, losing Wehrli, Skillicorn, Cabello…
At what point should I want to see achievement?
=== We are in a deep blue state, and that isn’t going to change anytime soon.===
We are not.
A short time ago… a US Senator, 3 more congressional seats, not veto proofed… 3 statewide offices.
It’s like this perpetual victimgood of a “blue state”… lol… friend, between Raja, Schneider, Underwood, Casten, the 6 statewide offices… how many had honest competition in the last cycles?
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Dec 14, 20 @ 4:47 pm
Today was all about the failure of Tom Demmer for a change instead of Bruce Rauner and definitely not about Democrats failing to pursue allegations of corruption against the leader of their party
Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, Dec 14, 20 @ 4:56 pm
While Madigan deserves whatever the Feds can do to him (although the Supremes give pause), the GOP has no credibility in these matters. Going back to Thompson starting his “patronage system” (er, I mean, “hiring freeze”) 8 days after Reagan’s election, which was “investigated” by US Attorneys JRT picked; George HW Bush’s DoJ giving a patronage / job buying trial to be those paragons of civil service, Terry Gainer and Roland W. Burris; the Sangamon County GOP openly violating Veteran’s Preference in state hiring; and Patrick Fitzgerald going after Richard M. Daley’s patronage operation but ignoring George Ryan’s, Rep. Durkin, look at your party’s history!
Comment by Anyone Remember Monday, Dec 14, 20 @ 5:04 pm
I wholeheartedly disagree with OW. Demmer did his job admirably. He was supposed to cause delay and chaos. He did that. Welch didn’t have to take any votes. He convinced him to take some. No one ever thought the results would be different. The committee contributed to some of the 19 coming out against Madigan.
Comment by Whatever Monday, Dec 14, 20 @ 5:05 pm
Yup, swept under the rug. Now Democrats can shuffle their feet, look you right in the eye and pretend that big lump under the rug is just the imagination of every one else. Nothing to investigate, more along now. And they blame the Republicans for the lump.
Comment by Louis G Atsaves Monday, Dec 14, 20 @ 5:06 pm
Using Durkin’s own logic, he needs to turn himself into the Feds and demand to be charged with helping people find jobs in exchange for the money ComEd gave him and for the votes he took for ComEd.
Comment by Annoyed Monday, Dec 14, 20 @ 5:10 pm
=== Demmer did his job admirably. He was supposed to cause delay and chaos.===
It was the federal investigation that’s driving this, nothing more.
=== The committee contributed to some of the 19 coming out against Madigan===
The revelation in July was the catalyst.
Demmer couldn’t even ask questions, Durkin asked if he could be the one. It’s *that* bad.
The goal was also to save Wehrli… how’d that go?
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Dec 14, 20 @ 5:12 pm
In the meantime GOP losing electors are trying to get into capitols around the country to cast their electoral votes against the actual voters of their states. They also are saying that even though they lost they get to cast their vote for Trump to win the state?
GOP may talk Madigan but nationally they are deafening in their silence on full acts of treason by Trump supporters. What’s going to make the bigger splash today? Which story is the general public seeing? Racist marches in DC, Trump supporters acting crazy, Illinois gop staying silent, or Madigan hearing was a bust?
Comment by Frank talks Monday, Dec 14, 20 @ 5:13 pm
=== Democrats failing to pursue allegations of corruption against the leader of their party===
What, no faith in the US Attorney.
Also note, since July 18th, I’ve felt Madigan should resign.
The Arroyo Rule is still in full effect, the USA can change the game quickly.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Dec 14, 20 @ 5:15 pm
The Republicans had to have known this day was coming, barring an actual indictment against Madigan, and they may have even written those statements months ago.
How much of their upset is because they had to issue the statements today and not in a few weeks?
Comment by Socially DIstant Watcher Monday, Dec 14, 20 @ 5:18 pm
LOL. This is what happens when you are guilty of the very same thing you are accusing your political opponents of doing. Christ asked the Pharisees who would be the first to cast the first stone and they walked with shame because they were guilty of the same sin as the adulterous woman.
Perhaps, Jim Durkin should do the same and walk the walk of shame of all hypocrites.
Comment by Burnt Band-Aid Monday, Dec 14, 20 @ 5:32 pm
To Madigan’s response…
Dunno how that response peels any of the 19 to come back, but it’s a response.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Dec 14, 20 @ 5:32 pm
Add one more to the list, AG Barr resigns, of things that the general public will talk and care about before this Madigan committee. Well at least Wehrli got to do one more drive to Springfield.
Comment by Frank talks Monday, Dec 14, 20 @ 5:40 pm
When the standard for the House Republican leadership is - “Well we didn’t get killed at the polls this year” - the bar is set really, really low. Republicans - you kind of get what you bargained for - a not so talented version of Mike Madigan. Enjoy losing elections for another decade.
Comment by Springfield Follies Monday, Dec 14, 20 @ 5:42 pm
Lee Daniels had a Republican map and only served one term as Speaker. Jim Durkin has Mike Madigan on the ropes and he can’t deliver the knock out punch because he too is compromised.
Do Republicans want to even win elections? It sure does not seem like it. Every day Jim Durkin stays as GOP leader is another day of Mike Madigan expanding his power. Crazy.
Comment by Trim the Fat Monday, Dec 14, 20 @ 5:51 pm
If I had to predict, MJM continues in his role as Speaker. That said, his presence looms even larger in the 2022 elections with a remap, Dem President and tough budgetary decisions ahead.
Comment by BeenThereDoneThat Monday, Dec 14, 20 @ 6:06 pm
Does anyone have a package of bills for how we recover from COVID or is this the only thing anyone cares about?
Comment by Just Me 2 Monday, Dec 14, 20 @ 6:21 pm
The Westchester Irish mob is back. Except they really aren’t and nobody cares because the Westchester Irish mob is too dimwitted to know when they have been outsmarted again.
Comment by Peaky Blinders Monday, Dec 14, 20 @ 6:21 pm
Jim Durkin’s secretary Grant Wehrli came into the GA an emotionally unstable blowhard and leaves an unhinged, emotionally unstable loser.
Comment by Love that Chicken Monday, Dec 14, 20 @ 6:28 pm
What to hate more: the ILGOP’s incessent victimhood or the fact that the Dem mushrooms didn’t even attempt to investigate the matter? It’s a close call.
Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Monday, Dec 14, 20 @ 6:50 pm
I had the pleasure to vote against Wehrli… very satisfying indeed.
Comment by Lincoln Lad Monday, Dec 14, 20 @ 7:00 pm
“turned the rule of law on its head”
the hypocrisy of this
Comment by Anon E Moose Monday, Dec 14, 20 @ 7:41 pm
This committee was always going to be a joke, but I am looking forward to the day in the near future when Madigan is gone. Good riddance.
Comment by Chicagonk Monday, Dec 14, 20 @ 10:40 pm
Maybe the lack of “activity” by the SIC will just speed things up a bit on the part of the feds????
Comment by Joe Schmoe Monday, Dec 14, 20 @ 10:55 pm
Are there any jobs available at Peoples Gas? Asking for a friend.
Comment by PublicServant Tuesday, Dec 15, 20 @ 8:25 am
I guess we will see where this goes next. My bet is that it will go nowhere and nothing will change. Illinois ain’t ready for reform.
Comment by Really Tuesday, Dec 15, 20 @ 9:04 am