By Dave Dahl
SPRINGFIELD – Four defendants indicted for allegedly trying to bribe House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) have pleaded not guilty. Lobbyists Mike McClain and Jay Doherty and former Commonwealth Edison executives Anne Pramaggiore and John Hooker appeared on a video call in federal court Wednesday morning.
Alleged statements from McClain – a former lawmaker and friend of Madigan – appear to make up much of the federal case, in which the utility itself has admitted trying to get its way in the legislature by attempting to bribe Madigan, including giving no-show jobs to people connected to him.
State Rep. Deanne Mazzochi (R-Elmhurst) was part of a Republican chorus to pile on about an hour later. “Mike Madigan was using Com Ed as his own personal political playground,” she said. “That culture, that mentality, has. To. End. If Mike Madigan is not going to be held accountable and answer questions, so we can get the facts, then he must resign now, so we can start a new and better day for Illinois.”
Mazzochi, a member of the committee investigating Com Ed and Madigan, says the chair of the committee is just slowing everything down. But State Rep. Chris Welch (D-Hillside) says the Republicans know the committee is not to interfere with a federal investigation and accuses the GOP of playing “political theatre.”
The committee is next scheduled to meet Dec. 14.
Meanwhile, as Madigan’s support within his caucus to remain speaker is eroding, House Minority Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) says he will appeal to fifteen “reform-minded” Democrats to support him so he can be speaker.
Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]
