Metro East Sun

Former Republican state House candidate Mike Babcock can almost peer into the future when it comes to troubled House Speaker Mike Madigan.

“I’m thinking he may be indicted and it all may be happening real soon and he knows it,” Babcock told the Metro East Sun soon after four individuals with ties to the longtime lawmaker, including close associate Michael McClain, were hit with a slew of bribery and conspiracy charges related to the still ongoing ComEd pay-for-play federal probe.

In the aftermath, Babcock now sees Madigan’s actions largely being about self-preservation, including his role in Illinois legislative leaders recently moving to cancel the fall Veto Session scheduled for this month. While the decision is said to stem from rising COVID-19 infection rates, Babcock begs to differ.

“It has everything to do with him not wanting to have to answer any questions about ComEd, which everyone wants to talk about,” he said. “He knows he has massive problems on that front and it probably won’t be long before he gets what I think he deserves.”

The state’s longest-tenured lawmaker, Madigan now finds himself at the center of the ComEd scandal, with investigators alleging that all the profits from the scheme where steered to him in exchange for favorable legislation. At the same time, a special House committee has been convened in Springfield to look into some of his most suspect behavior in order to ascertain if any sanctions up to possible expulsion are warranted.

The new session was slated to commence on Nov. 17 for the first day of a scheduled six-day session. The next General Assembly is due to be inaugurated Jan. 13.