Will County Gazette

Republican State Representative candidate Thomas McCullagh says he believes that alll Illinois Democrats have benefitted from embattled former House Speaker Michael Madigan’s corrupt money.

McCullagh, running in the 97th District, which includes parts of Plainfield, Shorewood, Joliet, Bolingbrook and Oswego, strongly underlined this in connection with Madigan’s indictment.

“Many Democrats within the state legislature in Springfield, specifically the state Representatives who continually voted for Madigan to serve as speaker of the house, are also to blame for allowing him to abuse his position to take advantage of Illinois residents,” McCullagh said. “They had their chance to rectify their mistake through an independent investigation into Madigan’s abuse of power but new House Speaker Chris Welch squashed that investigation.” 

On Wednesday, Madigan was accused of running a racketeering ring, sitting at the center of a $150 million bribery scandal. 

“Democratic Party politicians in Illinois have been using Madigan money to keep themselves in office for decades, money that we now know was extorted through businesses and Illinois taxpayers,” McCullagh said. “For this reason, they cannot be trusted to bring the change that needs to happen in Springfield."

Gov. J.B. Pritzker was noted in the pages of the indictment as well as the “future governor.” In its pages, Pritzker appears to have taken orders from Madigan regarding politically connected job-seekers, including former Chicago Alderman Danny Solis, who sought a six-figure state appointment. But Pritzker denied those accusations. A spokesman stated that the governor does not recall Madigan “ever asking him to consider Danny Solis for any position." 

Campaigning to work for a better Illinois, McCullagh said that one of his top priorities is “to root out corruption and usher in a new way of politics in Illinois that respects the people and listens to them.”

“The old way of playing empire using taxpayer money and to further personal interests of politicians needs to end," McCullagh said. "It is hurting us and our families and has been for a long time. Corruption is a slow poison. It will kill our state and hurt the lives of all Illinois families if we don’t cure ourselves of it.” 

In a statement, Madigan said he was “never involved in any criminal activity” in his 50 years in office. Madigan, who spent 36 years as house speaker, the longest in the country’s history, is accused of using the office 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.