West Central Reporter

Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives Michael Madigan has continued to ignore calls from inside and outside his party that he resign after being implicated in a federal bribery investigation involving Commonwealth Edison.

Republican lawmakers are now seeking to force the issue.

House Minority Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs), recently introduced a charge against Madigan for “conduct unbecoming to a legislator or which constitutes a breach of public trust,” according to The Telegraph. He leveled the charge during the first day of hearing by a state House Special Investigative Committee that has been entrusted with investigating Madigan’s role in the ComEd bribery and extortion scheme.

“As was stated earlier, this is a unique proceeding,” Durkin said. “It has only been invoked once and that was back in 2012.”

Durkin’s reference to 2012 was a callback to hearings that ended with the expulsion of Derrick Smith from his position as a state representative. At the time, Smith faced a federal indictment related to allegations he accepted a $7,000 bribe in exchange for legislative favors.

“This case is unique to previous special investigating committees, in that the member that is subject of the petition has not been accused by federal prosecutors of any criminal activity,” committee Chairman Emanuel “Chris” Welch (D-Hillside) said.

While Madigan has not been charged, U.S. Attorney John Lausch has issued a subpoena for documents from Madigan related to jobs that were secured with ComEd or its parent company Exelon for individuals with ties to Madigan. ComEd has already paid $200 million in fines related to a settlement with federal prosecutors for transactions and hirings connected to Madigan.