Metro East Sun

Republican state House hopeful Amy Elik has no illusions about what she’ll find in Springfield.

“With the ongoing investigation into Speaker (Mike) Madigan and his role in the ComEd scandal, I would hope the speaker would come and be forthright with the committee,” she said regarding the state’s longest-tenured lawmaker’s being requested to appear before a bipartisan Special House committee looking into his conduct. “But I have my doubts.”

Madigan now finds himself at the center of the unfolding federal probe in which prosecutors contend perks and benefits were steered to him through associates as part of a pay-for-play scheme where he provided support on pending legislation. With ComEd having already agreed to pay a $200 million fine stemming from the scheme, Elik, now running against Democrat incumbent Monica Bristow in the 111th District, said she still doesn’t expect Madigan to make things easy.

“I worry the Democrat members of the committee will not push towards the truth,” she said.

Republican members on the six-member panel are anxious to get proceedings going after recently receiving a letter from U.S. Attorney John Lausch green-lighting their probe. In the letter, Lausch expressed his office does not “object generally” to the committee members calling forward people connected to the investigation, adding that witnesses would be allowed to tell lawmakers the same information they told the feds.

Republicans have already detailed plans to call Madigan to testify; even as the state’s longest-tenured lawmaker has dismissed the proceedings as a publicity stunt.

A majority vote is needed for the probe to proceed to the next stage – a new committee empowered to determine potential sanctions that would then be voted on by the entire House. A two-thirds majority would be required for any discipline to be taken against Madigan, which could include expulsion.