SE Illinois News

Republican state House candidate David Friess insists he hears what protesters are now expressing outside the home of House Speaker Mike Madigan everyday on the campaign trail.

“The fact that people are now protesting outside Speaker Madigan's home and demanding that he step down tells me that people are paying attention, are aware of the deferred prosecution with ComEd, and are aware of the allegations of bribery leveled against Madigan,” Friess told the SE Illinois News. “As I talk with voters every day, I hear the message that they are fed up with the corruption and are ready for change.”

With Madigan now at the center of an unfolding federal corruption probe involving ComEd and a pay-for-play scheme in which the perks were allegedly steered to Madigan, the state’s longest-tenured lawmaker is also under investigation by a recently convened bipartisan special House committee looking into his behavior in order to determine if sanctions – possibly leading up to expulsion – are warranted.

Now running against incumbent state Rep. Nathan Reitz (D-Steeleville) in the 116th District, Friess said this is most pressure he can remember Madigan facing in all his years in Springfield.

“This is due to how he rules the state, but also due to the very serious nature of the allegations of bribery against him,” Friess added. “The deferred prosecution entered into between the federal government and ComEd outlines years of alleged bribery by Madigan and his minions.”

With Election Day just weeks away, Friess said he’s hoping to see voters keep the same energy as they prepare to go to the polls.

"The allegations of bribery between Madigan and the largest public utility are unprecedented,” he said. “We cannot gain the trust of the public when the speaker of the House is under federal investigation.”