FILE – In this July 26, 2017, file photo, Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, speaks at a news conference at the Capitol in Springfield, Ill. (Justin Fowler/The State Journal-Register via AP, File)
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The chairman of an Illinois House committee investigating misconduct by Speaker Michael Madigan has postponed Thursday’s hearing.
Democratic Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch issued a statement Wednesday saying that the committee is awaiting delivery of a great number of records from ComEd, the utility company at the center of a statehouse bribery scandal. Welch said without the records and during a surge in the coronavirus pandemic, meeting would be fruitless and unsafe.
ComEd admitted in a deferred prosecution agreement signed with the U.S. attorney for the northern district of Illinois in July that its top administrators offered no-work lobbyist jobs and sub-contracts to allies of Democrat Madigan in exchange for favorable legislation. Madigan is identified in the document only as House speaker. He has not been charged with a crime and denies wrongdoing.
Last month, Welch accused Republicans who filed the charge that prompted the committee’s probe of using it as a platform from which to campaign for Tuesday’s election, and promptly postponed proceedings until after its conclusion. House Republican Leader Jim Durkin of Western Springs said Welch was stonewalling.
