MOKENA - Frustrated with Illinois Democrats being accused time after time of immoral and illegal activities, one Republican lawmaker is challenging her female Democrat colleagues to hold their Democrat leadership accountable. Revelations through a Madigan insider's discovered emails prompted another round of calls this week.
The emails written by Madigan confidante Michael McClain suggested ghost payrolling, rape and other coverups.
“Ghost payrolling is one thing, but to use the coverup of a rape as a positive reason to keep someone employed by the state, is unconscionable," said State Rep. Margo McDermed (R-Mokena). "You have to ask yourself what kind of person uses that as a bargaining chip? A man who in fellow Rep. Cassidy’s own words is a ‘guy who for decades has been seen as the most powerful lobbyist in the state and remains incredibly close to the Speaker.’"
McDermed asserted, "Mike McClain is not the exception, he’s the rule in the culture that Mike Madigan and his cronyism has fostered. He’s not the only one engaging in such detestable, corrupt behavior, just the only one foolish enough to put it in writing."
Last month McDermed joined several fellow Republicans in calling for Madigan’s resignation in the light of the continuing stream of sexual harassment and corruption allegations surrounding the Speaker. However, the Democrat women kept silent as the House passed "lackluster" sexual harassment legislation and Madigan promised change in the assembly's culture.
"I am once again calling for Speaker Madigan’s resignation, but I know that won’t do anything. Mike Madigan has played the game for decades," McDermed said.
"He is smart enough to remove himself from any direct implications in any of this and will continue to side step responsibility and maintain his iron grip on our state. The only way he will step down is if those who reap the benefits of his money and his organizational power finally say enough is enough."
McDermed said she is instead calling on the female members of Madigan’s leadership- Reps.Willis, Hernandez, Burke, Manley, and Gordon-Booth- to "step up and do the right thing."
"Where is the line for you? How much more do we have to uncover before we hold this man accountable?” she asked.
McDermed is retiring from the Illinois House next January.
