Former Rep. Grant Wehrli (R-Naperville) | Submitted Photo
Former Rep. Grant Wehrli (R-Naperville) | Submitted Photo
Former State Representative Grant Wehrli said House Speaker Chris Welch improperly shut down an investigation into indicted former speaker Michael Madigan prior to Welch’s office releasing talking points in defense of Madigan.
Wehrli said the investigation was ended because "they didn't want any new information coming out."
“That’s why they shut it down,” Wehrli, a Naperville resident, said on Capitol Connection. “We had one witness, and that one witness shed new light on Speaker Madigan’s operations. And so they did not want any more witnesses coming forward."
Welch was the chair of the special investigative committee probing into the ComEd bribery scandal involving Madigan.
"I would be interested now in knowing what the back story is between then-speaker Madigan and then-representative Welch when the SIC was going on as far as who was protecting whom," Wehrli said. "I think there are some serious questions that need to be asked of now-speaker Welch, Natalie Manley, needs to be sitting in this chair answering some questions ... and Rep. Elizabeth Hernandez, they shut that committee."
A set of Madigan indictment talking points were released by Welch's office but has been retracted, with the speaker saying he did not approve any of the statements, CapitolFax.com reported.
Welch was Madigan's personal choice to fill in the position he left in 2021. Madigan held the longest seat in the country as a House speaker — 36 years. Madigan was indicted allegedly running a racketeering ring involved in a $150 million bribery scandal, Madigan's conduct was investigated by a six-member special investigative committee with Hernandez and Manley from Welch and Madigan's Democratic party. Welch was accused of shielding Madigan.
The indicted former speaker, in a statement, said he was "never involved in any criminal activity" in his 50 years in office. Accused of using his official position for personal gain, he emphasized that he adamantly denies these accusations and can "look back proudly on my time as an elected official, serving the people of Illinois."
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