Metro East Sun

Former Republican House candidate Mike Babcock is encouraged by what he views as the bipartisan outcry over House Speaker Mike Madigan’s central role in an ongoing federal corruption probe.

“I think there are a large number of Democrats asking for his resignation,” Babcock told the Metro East Sun. “There are maybe 10 to 15 Democrats, and they’re not saying if he’s guilty, they just know that it’s best that he go. I think there’s growing support for that, and it has bipartisan standing.”

After nearly four decades of being in control in Springfield, Madigan now finds himself at the center of an unfolding federal corruption probe involving ComEd. Federal prosecutors contend the company engaged in a “years-long bribery scheme” involving jobs, contracts and payments that were steered to him in his role as house speaker and chairman of the Illinois Democratic Party.

To date, no charges have been filed against the state’s longest-serving lawmaker, but prosecutors have not been shy in asserting that the utility giant sought to “influence and reward” Madigan by providing financial benefits to those directly tied to him.

Even as the pressure mounts, Babcock said he doesn’t expect Madigan to just easily walk away.

“For him to step down is to relinquish power in uncovering all the bad deeds he’s ever done,” he said. “I think the reason he’s so intent on staying in power is so he can keep everyone from investigating him from within the system. I think he will hold on as long as he can because he knows it’s the last way to save himself.”

Through it all, Babcock said it’s imperative that lawmakers keep the pressure on.

“There’s no way reform can come to Springfield as long as he is in office,” he said. “He controls everything; the money, the circle of people around what gets done in the state, everything. We have to change that for things to be better.”