Sangamon Sun

Republican gubernatorial candidate Jesse Sullivan has released a series of emails between indicted former House Speaker Michael Madigan's ally Michael McClain and some of the governor's highest level officials.

"Every last Madigan patronage hire should be removed from state service," Sullivan said in a press release. "But instead of strengthening our watchdogs, our governor is trying to fire them. Taxpayers deserve a thorough investigation into patronage hiring in the Pritzker administration." 

Madigan pleaded not guilty after being indicted on charges running a racketeering ring involved in a $150 million bribery scandal. Part of Madigan’s strategy to gain power was to provide jobs for the politically connected. WBEZ reported that through the urging of Madigan or McCain, Gov. J.B. Pritzker gave state jobs to 35 politically connected people. Those jobs cost the state about $2.5 million per year.  

According to the indictment, Pritzker appears to have taken orders from Madigan regarding politically connected job-seekers, including former Chicago alderman Danny Solis who sought a six-figure state appointment. 

The governor denied those accusations. 

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

The emails show McClain lobbying Pritzker for placement on the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and successfully placing a candidate on the Prison Review Board. 

"The indictment alleges a long-term, multifaceted scheme to use public positions for unlawful gain, including no-show or low-show jobs for Madigan's political workers and private gain for Madigan himself," U.S. Attorney John Lausch said at a news conference in the wake of the indictment. "The schemes describe involvement of a leader of state government, one of his close confidantes, top management of a large public utility, consultants and others."

Madigan has denied the charges. "I was never involved in any criminal activity. The government is attempting to criminalize a routine constituent service: job recommendations. That is not illegal," he said in a statement. 

Sullivan, 37, is a tech entrepreneur who was born and raised in Menard County.