spot_imgspot_img

Lawmakers recall former Illinois House speaker’s tactics ahead of corruption trial

spot_img

(The Center Square) – With the racketeering and bribery trial of longtime former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan scheduled to begin Tuesday, Illinois lawmakers are recalling some of Madigan’s tactics.

Madigan and co-defendant Michael McClain are facing 23 counts of racketeering, bribery and official misconduct charges as part of a federal indictment.

Democratic State Rep. Kelly Cassidy said she was forced to resign from her job with the Cook County Sheriff’s Office in 2018 after she called for an investigation of sexual harassment allegations against a Madigan aide.

“My supervisor at the time came to me and said that the speaker’s chief of staff had called to see if I was still employed there and asked me if that was something that they did ordinarily and I said no. She said, ‘I didn’t think so,’ and it seemed ominous,” Cassidy said.

Cassidy added that she opposed one of Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart’s bills a little bit later, and somebody in Madigan’s leadership team turned it into a public issue.

“I ultimately had to resign the position because of that controversy they created. All of that, each of these things, were in the immediate aftermath of me speaking up, pointing out problems within his [Madigan’s] administration,” Cassidy said.

Cassidy said she learned about Madigan’s ways earlier when the speaker’s office had some of her allies question her about betraying her values and working for then-Governor Bruce Rauner’s turnaround agenda.

“During the Rauner years, there was a pretty amazing day where, as I moved through the Capitol, I was getting these really weird questions from traditional allies: a union member asking me if I was reconsidering my position on pensions, the trial lawyers asking me if I had rethought my position on workers comp, for example,” Cassidy recalled.

Cassidy said that these allies had been assigned to confront her that day.

“I don’t believe for a minute that any of them believed I was doing it, nor do I think that Madigan’s people thought so. It was just another way to harass me,” Cassidy said.

Republican State Rep. Dave Severin said he experienced the things he had heard about Madigan for 30 years, when he first ran for the statehouse in 2016 against a Madigan ally.

“They literally did everything they could to ruin my name, my business, our family name,” Severin said.

Severin defeated Democrat John Bradley in the 2016 general election. Bradley had served as the Democrats’ Assistant Majority Leader in the statehouse since 2013. He also served as chair of the Revenue and Finance Committee. Severin described Bradley as a Madigan lieutenant.

“I found out immediately, if you were going to oppose Speaker Madigan or someone that was one of his cronies, you were going to have the wrath of Madigan after you immediately. So I experienced that even before I was elected,” Severin said.

Severin said he still prays for the former speaker regularly.

“Life goes fast, and he’s up in his age. On Earth, he’s gonna pay for the things that he’s done, but there’s even a larger picture than that. I respect him for the position that he had, but I don’t respect the corruption that he facilitated,” Severin said.

The 82-year-old Madigan served in the Illinois House from 1971 to 2021. He was speaker for all but two years between 1983 and 2021.

United States of America v. Madigan et al is scheduled to begin with jury selection at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Everett McKinley Dirksen United States Courthouse in Chicago.

DON’T MISS OUT

Be the first to know about the latest news, giveaways, events, and updates from The Black Chronicle!

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

spot_img
spot_img

Hot this week

African and Caribbean Nations Call for Reparations for Slave Trade, Propose Global Fund

Nations across Africa and the Caribbean, deeply impacted by...

Health care company agrees to pay $22.5 million to settle claims of over billing

A health care company agreed to pay nearly $22.5...

Sports betting expert offers advice on paying taxes for gambling winnings

(The Center Square) – Tax season is underway, and...

Entertainment district benefits don’t outweigh the cost, economists say

(The Center Square) — Weeks later, after more details...

Business association ‘disappointed’ by WA L&I’s proposed workers comp rate hike

(The Center Square) – The Association of Washington Business...

Corporate tax cut may have adverse effect on smaller, local businesses

(The Center Square) — The House Ways and Means...

Veterans watch Trump’s moves on pay, benefits, personnel

This Veterans Day, veterans from all backgrounds and political...

Louisiana ranked 40th in annual State Tax Competitiveness Index

(The Center Square) — The Tax Foundation conducts a...

The Big Trump Comeback 

(AURN News) — The Donald Trump political comeback will...

Cross-examination of former ComEd exec expected at Madigan corruption trial

(The Center Square) – The bribery and racketeering trial...

Pro-life group: Billionaire Pritzker’s national abortion push is about 2028 primary

(The Center Square) – Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker launched...

Republicans inch closer to securing U.S. House majority

Republicans this weekend moved closer to securing a majority...

More like this
Related

Corporate tax cut may have adverse effect on smaller, local businesses

(The Center Square) — The House Ways and Means...

Veterans watch Trump’s moves on pay, benefits, personnel

This Veterans Day, veterans from all backgrounds and political...

Louisiana ranked 40th in annual State Tax Competitiveness Index

(The Center Square) — The Tax Foundation conducts a...

“It’s Not Rare If It Affects Your Child”: Prevention Strategies For Meningitis B

Meningitis B is a rare but deadly disease. At...