South Central Reporter

State Rep. Blaine Wilhour (R-Beecher City) is already prepared to render his verdict in the widening federal probe that now finds longtime House Speaker Mike Madigan at its center.

“It is time that the Illinois Democrat criminal enterprise led by Speaker Madigan comes to an end,” said Wilhour. “Gov. J.B. Pritzker should call for his immediate resignation.”

Madigan, who easily reigns as the longest-tenured lawmaker in the state, now finds himself at the center of a still-evolving probe into ComEd, in which prosecutors are on record in asserting that the company engaged in a “years-long bribery scheme” involving jobs, contracts and payments that were steered to him in his role as house speaker and chairman of the Illinois Democratic Party.

While stopping short of formally levying any charges, prosecutors contend Commonwealth Edison attempted to “influence and reward” Madigan by providing financial benefits to those directly tied to him.

Wilhour said all of it has come at a heavy price.

“Corruption, self-dealing and pay-to-play politics have ruined any chance for this great state to reach its vast potential,” he added. “Madigan needs to resign, the feds need to freeze his campaign, and these Democrats need to break their silence. If you are shaking down one multi-billion dollar corporation, imagine how many others (there are).”

In publicly announcing the case against ComEd public, U.S. Attorney John Lausch noted the investigation is ongoing. The Chicago Tribune reports federal investigators have moved to subpoena Madigan for information, including “possible job recommendations.”

In a statement, a spokesperson for Madigan said he plans to cooperate with the probe, adding “The speaker has never helped someone find a job with the expectation that the person would not be asked to perform work by their employer, nor did he ever expect to provide anything to a prospective employer if it should choose to hire a person he recommended.”

Several media outlets have reported the subpoena also seeks records related to Madigan’s political organization and law firm, as well as a former state lawmaker and current or former Chicago aldermen.

The alleged scheme is suspected to date back to 2011, with many of the unanswered questions revolving around longtime Madigan confidante Michael McClain. Federal agents raided McClain’s Quincy home last year and the Tribune has reported at one point authorities secretly taped his phone calls.

As the probe continues to play out, ComEd has already agreed to pay a record $200 million fine.