Mayor Lightfoot Offers Thinly Veiled Support For Madigan's Ouster

CHICAGO — Mayor Lori Lightfoot strongly hinted Thursday that it's time for Democrats to remove embattled state Rep. Michael Madigan as state House speaker.

The mayor spoke abstractly about the need for people to believe elected leaders act in the best interest of citizens rather than themselves. Herself, included.

“The only way that our democracy will survive and flourish — if people have confidence in the people they elected to do the right thing for them. That doesn’t happen when there is a cloud that hangs. That doesn’t happen when people feel like elected officials have been completely compromised and have an agenda that has nothing to do with doing the peoples’ business. That’s the wrong direction for any of us," she said.

Lightfoot said holding elected office is a difficult particularly when faced with "crisis after crisis after crisis." And that task becomes increasingly difficult if you don’t have the legitimacy of the people that elected you in the first place," she said. " That’s not just a statement about Mike Madigan. That’s a statement about all of us."

For months, the mayor has kept her opinion on whether the powerful House Speaker and state Democratic Party Boss should resign or be stripped of power in light of the massive political corruption probe that includes federal indictments against members of Madigan's inner circle. Madigan has not been charged with a crime and publicly denies wrongdoing.

Lightfoot, a former federal prosecutor, said Thursday she has read the latest round of indictments stemming from the ComEd bribery scandal against Madigan insiders including former lawmaker Michael McClain, former ComEd chief executive Anne Pramaggiore and former lobbyists and Democratic Party insiders John Hooker and Jay Doherty.

The mayor told reporters she has been keeping track of the political fallout with "great interest," including the tide of Democrats announcing they wouldn't support Madigan for speaker during the next session and those who have been "silent."

Lightfoot said she would have more to say about Madigan in the future.