“Chicago-Style Politics” unfold in Chicago, Massive Bribery Scheme Involves IL Speaker

Chicago has been the national focus for corruption in politics for decades and is definitely a hot spot of attention for the Trump administration for a variety of high profile issues, including escalating violent crime and Democrat attacks on President Donald J. Trump from the Democrat Mayor of Chicago, Lori Lightfoot.

Earlier in July, Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan said that Republicans should start in Washington, not with him.

“I would suggest that the Illinois Republicans who want to pursue ethics reform go out to Washington, follow up on President Trump’s promise to drain the swamp,” Madigan said. “They can begin with Trump, the Attorney General [William Barr], [Former National Security Advisor] Michael Flynn, Roger Stone and others.”

Friday, after months of speculation on Friday, Democrat Speaker of the House Mike Madigan was the focus of the FBI.

Capitol police saw men in suits at the statehouse today. One officer said one of them flashed an FBI credential.

Now, per @BenBradleyTV, @WGNNews is reporting that Mike Madigan’s office was served grand jury subpoenas for documents.

— Mark Maxwell (@MarkMaxwellTV) July 17, 2020

The Chicago Sun-Times reported,”Federal prosecutors implicated Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan on Friday in a brazen, Chicago-style bribery scheme involving ComEd that allegedly went on for years and involved payments to Madigan associates exceeding $1.3 million.

Though the stunning, lengthy details were revealed in documents that charged only ComEd — and not Madigan — with bribery, they said ComEd has agreed to ‘fully and truthfully cooperate’ with federal prosecutors. The company has agreed to pay a $200 million fine and acknowledged that it sought Madigan’s help for legislation that could be worth more than $150 million to the utility company.”

The AP Reported,”Gov. J.B. Pritzker says Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan must resign if allegations of corruption are true. Electric utility ComEd agreed to pay $200 million to resolve a federal criminal investigation into a bribery scheme that implicates Madigan.”

Democrat Lightfoot reacted:

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, a former federal prosecutor, was asked if House Speaker Mike Madigan should resign and she said “that’s not really for me to say.” h/t @tahmanbradley

— Ben Bradley (@BenBradleyTV) July 17, 2020

Grassroots reaction from one IL GOP member on Facebook, “Illinois Democrats … every single one who took money from Michael Madigan should return it immediately to a special fund for taxpayers. And if you are a voter and hate Trump you need to have your head examined because Trump appointed a US Attorney draining the Democrat swamp created by Democrats under the leadership of Madigan. For this is was a huge gift to Illinois taxpayers. Trump didn’t corrupt Illinois democrats did!”

Madigan’s response:

House Speaker Mike Madigan’s response to Com Ed’s deferred prosecution agreeement which states the utility engaged in a decade-long scheme involving jobs, contracts and payments to curry favor with Madigan and pass legislation. pic.twitter.com/GaBqTAKUQ1

— Ben Bradley (@BenBradleyTV) July 17, 2020

According to office of Willam J. Barr, the US Attorney General:

“Commonwealth Edison Company (“ComEd”), the largest electric utility in Illinois, has agreed to pay $200 million to resolve a federal criminal investigation into a years-long bribery scheme, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago announced today.

The criminal investigation of ComEd is being resolved with a deferred prosecution agreement under which ComEd admitted it arranged jobs, vendor subcontracts, and monetary payments associated with those jobs and subcontracts, for various associates of a high-level elected official for the state of Illinois, to influence and reward the official’s efforts to assist ComEd with respect to legislation concerning ComEd and its business.  The U.S. Attorney’s Office today filed a one-count criminal information in U.S. District Court in Chicago charging ComEd with bribery.  Under the agreement, the government will defer prosecution on the charge for three years and then seek to dismiss it if ComEd abides by certain conditions, including continuing to cooperate with ongoing investigations of individuals or other entities related to the conduct described in the bribery charge.”

Commonwealth Edison Agrees to Pay $200 Million to Resolve Federal Criminal Investigation Into Bribery Scheme @FBIChicago @IRS_CI https://t.co/oJlPw9DR58

— U.S. Attorney’s Office (NDIL) (@NDILnews) July 17, 2020