House calls: Second Democratic state rep asks for Madigan’s immediate resignation

Then Democratic House nominee Terra Costa Howard, left, in 2018; House Speaker Michael Madigan, right, in 2015. | Rich Hein/Chicago Sun-Times file.

A west suburban state representative on Wednesday joined the short list of House Democrats calling on Michael Madigan to resign immediately from his post as speaker after federal charges against ComEd implicated the longtime leader in a years-long bribery scheme.

Glen Ellyn state Rep. Terra Costa Howard said in a statement she hopes Madigan “will do the honorable thing and step down” from his position as chair of the Illinois Democratic Party as well.

“Even if he was not directly involved in this scheme, these accusations clearly demonstrate that the Speaker’s leadership has failed,” Howard said. “Speaker Madigan has a duty to recognize that these allegations have cast a deep shadow on the reputation of our House. He must take action now to avoid inflicting further damage on the members of the House and the Democratic Party.”

While most of Madigan’s fellow Democrats have issued measured statements suggesting he should resign only if indicted or convicted, Howard said the revelations from prosecutors “make it impossible for Rep. Madigan to continue in his leadership roles.”

A spokeswoman for Madigan declined to comment. The speaker has not been charged with any crime and has denied wrongdoing.

Only one other Democratic House member — Naperville Rep. Anne Stava-Murray — has called for Madigan’s immediate resignation, while two Democrats in the state Senate have done so: Grayslake Sen. Melinda Bush and Chicago’s North Side Sen. Heather Steans.

When prosecutors announced the case against ComEd, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Madigan should resign “if it turns out that these things are true.” The Democratic governor stood by his conditional position at an unrelated news conference Wednesday.

State Sen. Heather Steans, left, in 2018; Then state House Democratic nominee Anne M. Stava-Murray, center, in 2018; Democratic state Sen. Melinda Bush, right, in 2016.

“I have been clear that, you know, when there is a raid, when there is an indictment, you know, I have called for people to step down from their positions, or to resign,” Pritzker said, calling it “the standard that I think is reasonable.”

Federal authorities issued a subpoena to Madigan July 17, seeking records on AT&T Services Inc., Walgreens and Rush University Medical Center, in addition to many of his top supporters.