Speaker Madigan declines invitation to testify

Posted on September 28, 2020
House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-IL). (Photo courtesy: WJBC/File)

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – The panel looking into Commonwealth Edison’s apparent attempt to buy off the Speaker of the Illinois House could have a shorter day Thursday than some thought.

Five big names, none bigger than that of House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago), have indicated they will not accept the special investigating committee’s invitation. Madigan said, for one thing, he didn’t do anything wrong. For another, there’s nothing wrong with recommending something for a job. And for yet another, House Minority Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) was awfully interested in a major energy bill, wasn’t he. 

Also respectively declining to show up Tuesday are former Exelon CEO Anne Pramagiorre and lobbyists Mike McClain, Jay Doherty, and former Chicago Ald. Mike Zalewski. Some of those invitees took as few as three sentences to RSVP, while Madigan needed almost three pages.

The Republican-instigated panel is looking into Commonwealth Edison’s deferred prosecution agreement and whether Madigan – uncharged but still implicated – may have been involved.

The utility giant reached an agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s office to pay $200 million and continue to cooperate.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]. 

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