David Friess | Contributed photo
David Friess | Contributed photo
Republican state House candidate David Friess believes the walls are finally starting to close in on longtime House Speaker Mike Madigan.
“Even though Madigan is refusing to testify before the committee, I am becoming optimistic that the committee may be able to get to the root of any corruption on behalf of the speaker,” Friess told the SE Illinois News. “Even though he may not testify, individuals close to him and others knowledgeable about the allegations set forth in the deferred indictment with ComEd may shed light on the allegations of corruption and bribery.”
With a bipartisan Special House committee now convened to look into some of the speaker’s more questionable behavior related to the ongoing ComEd federal corruption probe, Madigan recently let it be known he has no intention of answering questions about his suspected involvement before the bipartisan panel. The state’s longest-tenured lawmaker made his feelings clear in a three-page letter he sent to committee members in which he also forcefully defended his widely known practice of patronage hiring as not “ethically improper.”
Running against incumbent state Rep. Nathan Reitz (D-Steeleville) in the 116th District, Friess thinks there’s a good reason for Madigan feeling the way he does on the patronage front.
“It is clear that the speaker one, doesn't do anything unless it could benefit him, and two, he expects, every favor to be repaid twofold,” he said.
With Madigan having vowed not to show before the committee, Friess is among a growing number of Republicans urging GOP panel members to hold firm in their attempt to subpoena him, no matter how much resistance they may encounter.
“I think the Democrats’ rejection of the Republicans attempt to subpoena Madigan to appear before the committee is, regrettably, to be expected,” he said. “Madigan rules over the Democrats with an iron fist. If a Democrat steps out of line or refuses to support him, Madigan would see that that Democrat is punished, and it would begin with the defunding of that Democrats' bid for reelection.”
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