Kane County Reporter

State Rep. Dan Ugaste said the next step is clear: Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan must resign.

“Although he has not been charged, it is clear that Speaker Madigan is involved in this federal corruption case involving bribery to affect legislation, which makes it simple: he must step down,” Ugaste said in a statement shared with Kane County Reporter. “While ComEd has taken responsibility for their part in this crime, Speaker Madigan now must answer.”

Commonwealth Edison, Illinois’ largest electric utility, provided jobs and contracts as it attempted to influence Madigan, federal prosecutors revealed on July 17. ComEd agreed to a pay a $200 million fine for bribery and agreed to obey laws after admitting to working “to influence and reward" Public Official A, who was identified as the House speaker, a post Madigan has held for all but two years since 1993.

Rep. Mike Madigan | File Photo

Court documents released Friday detailed the extent of the corruption.

"The company admitted that it arranged for jobs and vendor subcontracts for Public Official A’s political allies and workers even in instances where those people performed little or no work that they were purportedly hired by ComEd to perform," the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a statement.

"In addition to the jobs and contracts, ComEd further admitted that it undertook other efforts to influence and reward Public Official A, including by appointing an individual to ComEd’s Board of Directors at the request of Public Official A; retaining a particular law firm at the request of Public Official A; and accepting into the company’s internship program a certain amount of students who resided in the Chicago ward where Public Official A was associated,” the statement said.

By doing this, the utility sought to help pass legislation that would reward it, including permission to adjust electric rates.

Madigan has been subpoenaed and ordered to produce relevant information on the case. He has pledged to cooperate and has so far resisted calls for his resignation.

Ugaste (R-Geneva) said this cannot end with Madigan forced from office after a half century in the Legislature and more than three decades as one of the state’s most powerful figures.

“The work doesn’t stop there, we need comprehensive ethics reform, for which I have always been an advocate,” he said in the statement. “I am calling on the governor to immediately call the General Assembly back to Springfield for a special session to deal with ethics reform and any other action necessary to address this investigation and Speaker Madigan’s involvement. The Democrats had a chance to address this much-needed ethics legislation at our special session in May, but chose not to do so.”

On July 21, he joined with fellow Republican Reps. Grant Wehrli and Deanne Mazzochi to ask Gov. J.B. Pritzker to call a special session.

Ugaste said he is glad more rocks are being turned over.

“There is more corruption to be uncovered in Illinois,” he said. “By adopting ethics reform, we can put the systematic checks in place to prevent any further harm to our state and Illinoisans who deserve better.”