Will County Gazette

Scott Greene, candidate for the Illinois House of Representatives to represent District 86 said the most recent bribery charges levied against former House Speaker Michael Madigan are reflective of other members of the general assembly. 

Incumbent Lawrence Walsh, Jr. (D-Joliet), Greene said is no exemption.

“Insiders like Larry Walsh are part of the problem,” Greene said in a press release. “There is a culture of corruption in Springfield that people like Larry Walsh not only ignore but they also personally benefit from the abuse of power that has made Illinois one of the most corrupt states in the country. How many companies did Mike Madigan pressure to donate to Walsh’s campaign? You won’t see Larry Walsh lift a finger to enact any kind of meaningful reforms because he has benefitted from the corruption.” 

Greene added that there is no doubt "that Michael Madigan was driving the corruption train, but there were many passengers on the journey and Larry Walsh was one of those passengers.”  

“Voters need to ask themselves which candidate in this race is going to take action to clean up Springfield and end the pay-to-play politics for good," he said. "The answer to that question is obvious. I am the only candidate in this race committed to ending the culture of corruption in Springfield. Larry Walsh has had every opportunity to fight for real reform. Instead, he chose silence and compliance in order to keep his campaign account flush with cash. Illinois will never change as long as status quo, career politicians like Larry Walsh remain in office.”

The longest tenure as House Speaker in American history was 36 years, held by Madigan. He is suspected of abusing his position for personal advantage and was already charged with 22 counts of public corruption in connection with a $150 million ComEd bribery conspiracy, along with his colleague Michael McClain. A new public corruption accusation against Madigan was brought against him, this time regarding an alleged bribery scheme involving AT&T. In a press statement, the Northern District of Illinois U.S. Attorney's Office mentioned the indictment. 

“The superseding indictment unsealed today includes the prior charges and adds an additional conspiracy count against Madigan and McClain related to an alleged corruption scheme involving AT&T Illinois," the press release reads. "The new indictment alleges that Madigan and McClain in 2017 conspired with AT&T Illinois’s then-president to corruptly arrange for $22,500 to be paid at the direction of the company to the Madigan ally.”  

John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, is heading the prosecution effort.

Paul La Schiazza, the former president of AT&T Illinois, was accused of orchestrating and approving the payments. La Schiazza was included in the indictment and has pleaded not guilty, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Walsh who is seeking re-election was appointed in 2012 well into Madigan’s reign as speaker. Greene previously suggested Walsh resign due to his close ties to Madigan. “Are you ready for this? Read it and get mad. Yep. Get mad. In 2019, Larry Walsh Jr. sent Mike Madigan over $100,000 in a two-day period from his "committee", to us plain folk it's also known as campaign funds," commented Scott Greene said on the Joliet Township Republican Organization Facebook page. "Dirty Money Larry Walsh Jr has some explaining to do. Walshy it's time for you to resign!!!."