Illinois GOP Chairman Don Tracy recently went after Gov. J.B. Pritzker of being the longtime “enabler” of indicted former House Speaker Michael Madigan.
“The biggest political news since the arrest and indictment of former Governor Rod Blagojevich landed last week when federal investigators announced charges of racketeering and bribery against Ex-Speaker of the House Michael J. Madigan,” Tracy said in a statement. “After four decades of amassing more and more power at the expense of Illinois taxpayers, the man at the top of the Democrat political machine is under federal indictment.”
Tracy also questioned why the governor “never asked for Madigan to step down as Speaker or Chairman of the Democratic Party of Illinois when others did.”
“Democrats through the decades — up and down the ballot and across Illinois — can be blamed for supporting and enabling Madigan’s corrupt reign,” Tracy said. “But one man in particular stands above the rest for being Madigan’s #1 supporter and chief enabler. That man is Governor JB Pritzker.”
Madigan has been indicted on 22 counts of racketeering and bribery for allegedly using his official position to solicit and receive personal financial rewards for himself and his associates, according to the federal indictment.
In the indictment paper, Pritzker appears to have taken orders from Madigan regarding politically connected job-seekers, including former Chicago alderman Danny Solis who sought a six-figure state appointment.
Madigan, who spent 36 years as a House Speaker, the longest in the country’s history, denies all allegations. “I look back proudly on my time as an elected official, serving the people of Illinois,” he said.
Madigan is “charged with racketeering conspiracy and individual counts of using interstate facilities in aid of bribery, wire fraud, and attempted extortion,” according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
