Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s response to Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s federal bribery investigation was softer than it has been for other corruption scandals. | Facebook/Governor JB Pritzker
Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s response to Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s federal bribery investigation was softer than it has been for other corruption scandals. | Facebook/Governor JB Pritzker
llinois Policy recently questioned why Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s response to state House Speaker Michael Madigan’s (D-Dist.22) implication in a federal bribery probe was softer than it has been for other corruption scandals.
“If these allegations of wrongdoing by the Speaker are true, there is no question that he will have betrayed the public trust and he must resign therefore,” Pritzker is quoted in a release issued by Illinois Policy.
Yet when other Illinois General Assembly members have been indicated in corruption scandals, Pritzker’s pronouncement was much more absolute. For instance, in the case of former state Sen. Martin Sandoval (D-Dist. 11), Pritzker asked Sandoval to step down as chair of the Senate Transportation Committee after federal agents raided Sandoval’s office.
Resignation of an elected official should be tied to “clear” evidence of targeting by a criminal investigation, Pritzker is quoted in the release. Yet despite Commonwealth Edison agreeing to pay a $200 million fine for trying to influence Madigan with favors, the addition of a recent subpoena of Madigan’s documents did not appear to meet Pritzker’s standard.
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