Prairie State Wire

House Minority Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) says Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) must resign immediately if the allegations recently announced against him are true.

Durkin spoke during a virtual press conference last Friday afternoon calling for Madigan to publicly address allegations disclosed last week regarding an alleged bribery scheme involving ComEd and his personal associates.

"Earlier this week, I pushed to reform our broken political system in Illinois and once again Speaker Madigan dismissed the need for ethics reform in Illinois," Durkin said during the press conference. "Today we see why. The announcement against ComEd and Public Official A and the ongoing investigation of the Cook County Property Tax System — that corrupt system — are another sad commentary on the state of our state."

Durkin said the stories about federal investigations into highest members of the Democratic Party of Illinois and their abuse of the Cook County Property Tax System are now coming to light.

"For too long, one man, Speaker Michael Madigan, has held so much power and the old axiom goes that power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely," Durkin said. "The chances for ethics reform this session have been blocked. Any hope for real property tax reform has been stalled. The system has been rigged to benefit those in power and keep the Democratic Party in control while the citizens of Cook County and Illinois suffer."

Durkin said he hoped the allegations are an awakening for the citizens of Illinois.

"We sit here in a bankrupt state burdened by the actions, or in many cases, the inactions, of the Democratic Party of Illinois that through Speaker Madigan has held the reigns for decades," Durkin said. "The allegations presented today are troubling and downright depressing."

Durkin said Madigan needed to speak publicly on this issue.

"And, if the allegations are true, he must resign immediately," Durkin said. "And, just as important, I hope that members of the assembly in the majority party finally have the courage to stand up and demand an explanation of their leader that they have for decades elected to rule."

Durkin said the citizens of Illinois deserve much better and believes there should be a special legislative session for ethics reform.

"I talked about this three days ago," Durkin said. "About the failed efforts to get ethics reform passed in that three-day session. It was very discouraging that Democrats overlooked it and didn't consider it a priority."

Durkin said that when Madigan was asked about it, he deflected and told reporters to talk to the officials in Washington, D.C.

"I'm here and I represent Illinois," Durkin said. "I am a member of the House of Representatives and I'm one of 118 members who should be sickened and outraged by what goes on in that chamber. We are at a tipping point right now and we should go back into session immediately to address ethics reform. But, the House Democratic Caucus needs to make a really important decision and they need to make a deep dive into what they stand for."

Late last week, ComEd agreed to pay $200 million to resolve a federal criminal investigation into an alleged bribery scheme involving Madigan in which the utility claims it arranged for jobs and subcontracts for high-level elected officials in the state, St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot also called for Madigan's resignation if the allegations prove true, according to numerous reports.