Sangamon Sun

Springfield-based GOP candidate for Secretary of State John Milhiser has spoken out against corrupt Democrat politics. 

“Madigan and his power hungry followers are doing a disservice to our state and must be unseated," Milhiser said on Facebook. "Together we can work to remove corruption at its core.” 

A federal jury indicted Madigan on bribery and racketeering charges, including racketeering conspiracy and individual counts of using interstate facilities in aid of bribery, wire fraud and attempted extortion. 

Count eight of the charges presented on the 106-page indictment paper noted that "part of the scheme that, on or about Aug. 2, 2018, MADIGAN met with Alderman A, and during the meeting: (a) Alderman A explained that he was most interested in appointment to a State board that would pay him over $100,000 a year; (b) MADIGAN explained that he would assist Alderman A in obtaining an appointment to a State board by “go[ing] to [the future governor of the State of Illinois]. That’s what I would do. . . So you’d come in as [the future governor’s] recommendation.” 

“The governor does not recall Michael Madigan ever asking him to consider Danny Solis for any position," a Gov. J.B. Pritzker spokesman said in a statement.

Madigan also denied his involvement "in any criminal activity” in his 50 years in office. 

“I adamantly deny these accusations and look back proudly on my time as an elected official, serving the people of Illinois,” Madigan said. He has spent 36 years as Illinois’ House Speaker, the longest in the country’s history.

Milhiser is a former U.S. Attorney who is running for the Republican nomination. He served as a prosecutor in the Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office for 16 years. Milhiser has stressed his position as a public servant in his campaign, according to Capitol Fax.