Investigative committee in contact with U.S. attorney Lausch

House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago). (Photo courtesy: WikiMedia/Illinoislawmakers)

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – There’s some progress to report in the work of the special committee investigating Commonwealth Edison and House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago).

The committee’s leaders met with the U.S. attorney Monday to work out where one investigation ends and the other begins. Simply put, according to chairman State Rep. Chris Welch (D-Hillside), the Northern District’s John Lausch says Welch’s panel can call witnesses but not ask them questions. 

Republicans asked that the committee be formed to investigate the utility which has admitted bribery and the Illinois House Speaker who is uncharged. A “deferred prosecution agreement” extracted a $200 million payment from Com Ed.

Welch says the committee will likely have its second meeting next week.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]

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