SE Illinois News

Illinois State Rep. Adam Niemerg (R-Dieterich) is calling for more anti-corruption legislation in the wake of House Speaker Chris Welch’s office releasing talking points in defense of indicted former Speaker Michael Madigan. 

Welch's office said there is a set of "correct set of TPs on the indictment" and the previous was "supposed to have been trashed." Niemerg urges the Democrats to work with them rather than make efforts to tackle Madigan's indictment.

“This a blatant effort to try to focus the Madigan situation away from Democrats many of whom owe their political careers to the disgraced former Speaker,” Niemerg told SE Illinois News. “They can spin this however they want but the truth is we need serious, anti-corruption safeguards put into place to ensure nothing like what happened during the Madigan era ever happens again. 

"Instead of focusing on trying to explain away their complicity in Madigan’s reign as speaker, Democrats should be working with us to pass the toughest anti-corruption in the country," Niemerg said. "The past should stay in the past. Let’s focus on enacting reforms to root out the pay-to-play culture in Illinois once and for all.”

Welch's office has already retracted the earlier version of the talking points, which one statement read: "While I always stand with law enforcement, I unfortunately feel I must call into question certain aspects of the investigation process regarding Speaker Madigan’s case." The memo stated paragraphs specific to supporting the indicted former speaker. "From the start, he has faced unfair, partisan accusations; charges which appear to have influenced the indictments laid out today."

A special investigative committee (SIC), chaired by then-representative Welch, sought answers into the ComEd bribery scandal but was later ended by Madigan's handpicked successor. Welch, who replaced Madigan in 2021, was accused of protecting the ex-Illinois House speaker.

"You’re going through excruciating lengths to protect Michael J. Madigan from ever having to testify to his nefarious behavior," Rep. Grant Wehrli (R-Naperville) said at the time.

Madigan was alleged to have run a racketeering ring involved in a $150 million bribery scandal, according to some investigation papers.

Madigan refutes the charges, saying he was "never involved in any criminal activity" when he held office for 50 years. Madigan, who spent 36 years as House speaker, is accused of using his authority for personal gain. "I adamantly deny these accusations and look back proudly on my time as an elected official, serving the people of Illinois," Madigan said.