Lawmakers should be able to call House Speaker Michael Madigan or other witnesses to testify in the Illinois House’s ethics investigation into Madigan and a ComEd bribery scheme, according to the Chicago Tribune.
The U.S. attorney’s office says it has no objections to lawmakers calling witnesses.
The Chicago Tribute reported that three Republican members of the investigative committee submitted a voluntary witness list. The list includes Madigan and others implicated in the investigation, such as former ComEd executives and lobbyists.
The special committee met for the first time on Thursday, Sept. 10. It is made up of three Republicans and three Democrats.
If a majority of the six-member committee finds the Speaker’s actions unbecoming of the office, another 12-member House committee will decide if disciplinary action is needed. Any disciplinary actions recommended to be taken against the Speaker must then be passed through the Illinois House of Representatives.
The Republicans appointed by Rep. Durkin are Rep. Tom Demmer, R-Dixon, Rep. Deanne Mazzochi, R-Elmhurst, and Rep. Grant Wehrli, R-Naperville.
Madigan recused himself from the process, where he normally would have presided as the committee chair. Rep. Emanuel Chris Welch, D-Chicago, is taking the Speaker’s place as chair. Reps. Elizabeth Hernandez, D-Cicero, and Natalie Manley, D-Joliet, are serving alongside Welch.
