Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan (D) resigned from the state legislature at the end of the month amid a bribery investigation.
“Today I announce that I will be resigning as State Representative of the 22nd District at the end of the month,” Madigan said in a statement. published by WGN Radio in Chicago. “It has been my great honor to serve the people of Illinois as Speaker of the House and State Representative of the 22nd District.”
During a federal investigation, Madigan investigated a bribery scheme in which the Commonwealth Edison apparently wanted to win Madigan’s favor.
Four people connected to the scheme, including a close confidant of Madigan, pleaded not guilty in federal court. Madigan, however, was not charged with a crime, and denied or was aware of the plan.
His office was previously scrutinized amid a “Me Too” investigation one of his top assistants.
“It’s no secret that I was the target of malicious attacks by people who tried to diminish my many achievements to increase the working people of Illinois,” Madigan added in his statement. ‘The fact is that my motivation for holding an elected office has never been in doubt. I was determined in my commitment to public service and integrity, and have always acted in the interest of the people of Illinois. ”
Madigan has been home president for 35 years for the past 37 years and only gave up the hammer for a period of two years in the mid-nineties when Republicans controlled the chamber.
He first started serving in the state legislature in 1971, and he is currently chairman of the Illinois Democratic Party.
Welch acknowledged Madigan’s resignation in a statement posted on Facebook.
‘Since last month, Michael Madigan has dedicated 50 years of service to the House of Representatives of Illinois. I thank the former speaker for his sincere and meaningful contributions to our state, ”Welch said.
‘Now we need to build on that with a new generation of leadership that focuses on racial and gender equality in all dimensions, improves government transparency and leads with the kind of conviction, compassion and cooperation that our voters expect. “I sincerely appreciate his contributions and join him with Illinois residents across the state to wish him well,” he said.
The president of the Republican Republic of Illinois, Don Tracy, declared Madigan’s resignation in an email, saying that his legacy provided for the deterioration of a once large state, to increase pension obligations by hundreds of billions of dollars, and the building up of historical political power that primarily benefits government insiders and special interests. ‘
“President Madigan may no longer be a state representative, but he is still chairman of the Democratic Party of Illinois, where he personally controls more than $ 15 million in cash,” he said.