Rockford Sun

Winnebago County Republican Central Committee Executive Chairman Eli Nicolosi is convinced that former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan will forever live in infamy.

"It was national news when Mike Madigan resigned because he became a symbol of the old Democrat boss who pulled all the strings," Nicolosi told the Rockford Sun. "He was the epitome of machine politics and basically ran the state even when we had a Republican governor."

Madigan's long and checkered history as House Speaker ended in February.

The Chicago lawmaker resigned from his District 22 House seat and as chair of the Illinois Democratic Party.

The resignations came after Madigan was linked to a federal department of justice probe involving ComEd and a purported pay-for-play scheme continues.

While no charges have been filed against Madigan, and he admits to no wrongdoing, at least four individuals with links to him have been indicted as part of the probe, including former longtime confidante Mike McClain.

Investigators have also slapped ComEd with a $200 million fine.

Legislators in January opted to replace the state's longest-tenured lawmaker in favor of House Speaker by Rep. Emanuel "Chris" Welch (D-Hillside).

Nicolosi still can't believe that Madigan resigned.

"I can't believe that he will just go away," Nicolosi said. "A guy like that does not retire, and I am sure he is grooming allied successors."

Nicolosi said voters can thank Republicans for even given the appearance of having put an end to Madigan's reign of terror.

"I think we had a Republican president who encouraged his Justice Department to go after corruption," Nicolosi said. "Our new Democrat president has indicated that the U.S. Attorney who has been going after Madigan may be replaced at some point."