THE ILLINOIZE: Thursday Free for All...Madigan, Boeing, a new flag?
August 29, 2024
Good morning, Illinois.
Happy Illini football kickoff night to those who celebrate. Illinois takes on Eastern Illinois tonight at 8pm. Apologies to the Fightin’ Tim Butlers of EIU, but it probably won’t be pretty.
Governor Pritzker cuts the ribbon on a bridge project in Algonquin at 11:30. At 1:45 he’s at the Hard Rock Casino opening in Rockford.
Let’s get to it.
YOUR THURSDAY FREE FOR ALL
(note: we’re not responsible for paywalls and restrictions from other news outlets, because good journalism isn’t free)
Attorneys for ex-Speaker Michael Madigan want sex harassment, other ‘controversial’ evidence excluded from trial (Chicago Tribune)
Lawyers for former House Speaker Michael Madigan have asked a federal judge to exclude a laundry list of potentially prejudicial evidence from his upcoming racketeering trial, including details about controversial gaming legislation, Madigan’s influence over hiring at Metra, and payments made to a political operative who was accused of sexual harassment.
In a 41-page motion filed Monday, Madigan’s legal team said extensive pretrial publicity — including the Tribune’s ongoing series on Illinois’ “Culture of Corruption” — is already undermining Madigan’s right to a fair trial, and that adding “irrelevant” evidence about sensitive or peripheral topics would only make it worse.
“It is irrelevant and highly prejudicial propensity evidence masquerading as ‘enterprise evidence,'” the defense motion stated. “If admitted, admission of this evidence will violate Madigan’s right to a fair trial, and result in speculation, confusion, and cajole the jury into finding guilt for improper reasons.”
Madigan, 82, is charged in a 23-count indictment alleging he participated in an array of bribery and extortion schemes from 2011 to 2019 aimed at using the power of his public office for personal and political gain.
Also charged was Madigan’s longtime confidant Michael McClain, 76, a former state legislator and lobbyist who was convicted last year of orchestrating an alleged bribery scheme by Commonwealth Edison. McClain’s sentencing in that case is pending.
Madigan and McClain have each pleaded not guilty and the trial is set for October.
Top Illinois political figures still like Boeing's campaign money despite its troubles (Chicago Sun-Times)
The Boeing Company’s troubles — in the air, in the courts and with the federal government — haven’t kept three of Illinois’ four top legislative leaders and other state politicians from accepting campaign money from its political arm in 2024, records show.
The company’s political action committee has given a total of $22,000 this year to those legislators, other state and local politicians, and the two major political parties, all during the past month.
Among the recipients: Illinois Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, whose campaign fund received $1,000 from Boeing in July, according to the Illinois State Board of Elections, and who has taken a total of $9,000 from Boeing since 2020.
Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, and Illinois Senate Minority Leader John Curran, R-Downers Grove, also took $1,000 each in July from Boeing, records show.
In all, Illinois state and local political figures and funds have accepted more than $90,000 from Boeing since the federal government accused it of fraud in 2021, records show.
Asked about taking money from Boeing, a Harmon campaign spokesman says: “Since his first days in office and throughout his time as Senate president, Don Harmon has always prioritized consumer safety. Nothing will ever compromise his position on keeping the people of Illinois safe.”
Neither Welch nor Curran could be reached.
The insinuation here is that Harmon and others are in the tank (or on the take) because Boeing gave him $9,000 in campaign dollars out of the $12 million he has on hand right now. It’s one of the more shortsighted and annoying parts of political journalism these days. Not every contribution is a scandal, kids.
Illinois state flag redesign contest opens Sept. 3 (Bloomington Pantagraph)
Amateur vexillologists everywhere, prepare — the time to design a new Illinois state flag is near.
The Illinois Flag Commission will accept submissions for a new state flag design Sept. 3 through Oct. 18, Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias announced on Wednesday.
The 22-person commission, created via legislation signed by Gov. JB Pritzker in 2023, will select 10 designs. Illinois residents will then vote on the finalists or to keep the current state flag. Voting is expected to commence in January.
Once feedback is received, the commission will submit a report to the Illinois General Assembly with a recommendation on a new flag design or to retain the state's current flag. The report is due in April, per state law.
“I’m excited to see the creativity of Illinois residents and how they display their passion for our great state,” Giannoulias stated. “The symbols that represent and unify our state are important and this presents an excellent opportunity to engage Illinoisans and showcase their pride.”
I sent Secretary Giannoulias my idea yesterday.
Related: Want to redesign Illinois’ flag? Here’s your chance (Daily Herald)
Illinois holding contest to design new state flag (Chicago Sun-Times)
Illinois to soon accept submissions for new state flag (Chicago Tribune)
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POLITICAL POTPOURRI
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Media coverage of DNC protests highlights the ‘activist’s dilemma’ (WBEZ)
Longtime Harris supporters do victory lap for their candidate at DNC (Capitol News Illinois)
Talk show host Amy Jacobson steps down as Amundsen volleyball coach after controversial comments about Gus Walz (Chicago Tribune)
Editorial: Time to move past rueful chuckles about Chicago and Illinois’ corrupt and damaging ways (Chicago Tribune)
Editorial: Outrage over water rates (Daily Herald)
Opinion: With 2024 unaffected, will new post-primary ballot law face a different challenge? (Shaw Media)
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