CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker on Thursday offered his strongest criticisms yet of embattled House Speaker Michael Madigan, saying the Chicago Democrat should resign his influential post if he’s not willing to answer all questions from the media and the public about the federal corruption investigation that has moved to his doorstep.
Pritzker also suggested Illinois House members consider electing someone else to the speakership but stopped short of saying he was lobbying for that result behind the scenes.
Four former ComEd officials and lobbyists were indicted this week on charges they sought to influence legislation favorable to the utility by accommodating a public official many believe is Madigan.
Madigan, who chairs the Illinois Democratic Party, has not been charged with a crime. He released a lengthy statement saying he never sought favors in return for policies.
That is not good enough for Pritzker, a fellow Democrat who so far has declined to condemn the veteran politician. Even the governor’s remarks Thursday included a hedge of sorts: Madigan must at least come forward publicly to explain himself and take questions, live.
“The play-to-play, quid pro quo situation outlined in these indictments released last night are unspeakably wrong. Anyone who concludes otherwise is insulting the public,” Pritzker said. “If Speaker Madigan wants to continue in a position of enormous public trust with such a serious ethical cloud hanging over his head, then he has to, at the very least, be willing to stand in front of the press and the people and answer every last question to their satisfaction.”
“Written statements and dodged investigatory hearings are not going to cut it,” the governor added, an apparent reference to the work of a state House panel ultimately controlled by Madigan.
"If the Speaker cannot commit to that level of transparency, then the time has come for him to resign as Speaker. We are at an incredibly difficult moment in our state. We are all overwhelmed with decisions of life and death and economic distress. The people of Illinois do not deserve a political circus on top of that.”
Pritzker said he would work with whomever lawmakers select as a replacement for Madigan. The governor's comments came during the administration's latest coronavirus briefing.
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