Statement from Stephan Blandin and Adam Levitt on the federal indictment of Michael Madigan, former Illinois Speaker of the House

"ComEd bribed Michael Madigan because companies like ComEd know that they can profit by bribing governmental officials. State Farm was alleged to have bribed a Supreme Court Justice. Governor Blagojevich was allegedly bribed by the horse racing industry for favorable legislation.  ComEd has admitted to bribing Madigan and has been allowed to keep billions in profits arising from the formula rate legislation and other legislation that ComEd paid Madigan to enact.  Politicians will never be beyond reproach. The only way to stop companies like ComEd from bribing politicians is to remove companies’ profit incentive from being allowed to do so. We believe that our lawsuit—presently pending in the Illinois Court of Appeals—will hold ComEd accountable for its millions of Illinois customers who were economically damaged because of its admitted bribery scheme."