For state Rep. Deanne Mazzochi (R-Elmhurst), it’s all steam ahead on the House Speaker Mike Madigan-ComEd corruption front.
“A letter from the U.S. Attorney affirms that, contrary to what was said by the chairman of the Special Investigating Committee, the U.S. Attorney’s office has no problem with the committee seeking critical information from key witnesses, including Speaker Mike Madigan,” she said.
Mazzochi is one of three Republican lawmakers now serving on a bipartisan Special House committee looking into Madigan’s behavior to gauge if House sanctions, including expulsion, are warranted.
ComEd has already admitted to providing jobs and other perks to known Madigan associates in exchange for his support on certain legislation. Mazzochi argues she and her GOP colleagues are interested in arriving at just one conclusion.
“Despite the claim made by Chairman (Emmanuel ‘Chris') Welch (D-Hillside), the Republican members of this committee have no interest in partisan gamesmanship, only the truth,” she added. “That is something I would hope everyone on this committee, especially its chairman, wants.”
Mazzochi and company are now free to call witnesses and request documents in their probe, provided they steer clear of asking for procedural details about the criminal probe.
In a letter sent to committee lawmakers paving the way for them to press forward, U.S. Attorney John Lausch said his office does not “object generally” to the committee members calling forward people connected to the investigation and that witnesses would be allowed to tell lawmakers the same information they told the feds.
“Now that this is out of the way, it’s time for the committee to get to work,” Mazzochi said.
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