Corruption of political figures within the state is as unrelenting as it’s miserable.
One other member of the Illinois Senate was charged criminally final week. What’s that now — 5 of them plus one other six present or former members of the Illinois Home both convicted or awaiting trial on corruption fees?
That august group contains former Home Speaker Michael Madigan, who for many years formed public coverage in Illinois.
This time it was state Sen. Emil Jones III, D-Chicago. If that identify sounds acquainted, it’s as a result of he succeeded his father — former Illinois Senate President Emil Jones — when the senior Jones determined to retire on his fats legislative pension.
It’s a part of the political course of by which fathers hand down comfortable public positions to their progeny, an unsavory political custom that extends past Illinois’ borders.
The youthful Jones was charged in a felony data filed in federal courtroom. That strategy — somewhat than a proper indictment — usually foreshadows a negotiated responsible plea to the costs filed, however he entered a not responsible plea.
He’s charged with taking $5,000 to restrict any research of the effectiveness of red-light cameras to inside the metropolis of Chicago somewhat than in outlying areas the place his patron, red-light-camera firm Safespeed, did the majority of its enterprise. He is also charged with mendacity to FBI brokers.
It’s no accident that brokers paid their go to on the identical day the feds raided the house and workplace of one other corrupt member of the state Senate — the late Martin Sandoval.
Working undercover for the federal government was Safespeed government Omar Maani.
The Jones fees are a part of one other mammoth corruption case that’s restricted to Prepare dinner County and entails bribes to related politicos and corrupt public officers to rearrange the location of red-light cameras at high-traffic intersections.
These cameras have little to do with enhancing public security and every little thing to do with producing revenues from motorists cited for rolling somewhat than full stops.
This entire factor is a rip-off inside a rip-off. Motorists are scammed with bogus visitors citations whereas taxpayers are scammed when their elected officers take bribes to convey red-light cameras to their native communities.
This entire enterprise is awash in corruption, though many of the publicity has been restricted to Prepare dinner County as a result of that’s the place the red-light cameras are.
It’s unclear whether or not there’s a hyperlink between the Jones and Sandoval circumstances. Earlier than his dying from the coronavirus, Sandoval had pleaded responsible and was cooperating with prosecutors in reference to that and different pending investigations.
Along with Jones, different senators charged and/or convicted embody Sandoval, Terry Hyperlink of Waukegan, Annazette Collins of Chicago and Tom Cullerton of Villa Park.
Present or former Home members convicted or awaiting trial are Madigan, Mike McClain of Quincy and Derrick Smith, Connie Howard, Luis Arroyo and Eddie Acevedo, all of Chicago.
If it wasn’t clear earlier than, it’s inarguable now that Illinois’ and Chicago’s repute for political corruption is nicely deserved.
These individuals are merely doing what comes naturally to them and so many others who profess to be selfless public servants.
Serving in public workplace is a money-making enterprise that opens up every kind of authorized and unlawful technique of self-enrichment, whether or not it’s the sleazy apply of performing as lobbyists whereas holding workplace or taking bribes to go laws that may enrich others.
The individuals of Illinois are concurrently uninterested in and resigned to it.
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