Following Tim Mapes’ conviction, lawmakers condemn his conduct, GOP renews call for reform
Just hours after a federal jury Thursday convicted Democratic insider Tim Mapes of perjury and obstruction of justice, Democrats who had split from ex-Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan condemned the conduct of Madigan’s former right-hand man and Republicans once again called for reform in ethics-challenged Springfield.
But some of the biggest cheers came from those who worked with Mapes or within his orbit while he served for years as Madigan’s chief of staff, House clerk and executive director of the state Democratic Party.
Among the most notable was Sherri Garrett, who worked in the clerk and speaker’s offices and publicly came forward with allegations that for years she endured and witnessed harsh behavior by Mapes, saying it was “often sexual and sexist in nature.”
“My experience speaking out about the sexual harassment I endured in 2018 was painful — and more painful was knowing that there were countless others like me who were too afraid of Mr. Mapes to come forward and speak their own truths,” Garrett said. “I hope that those individuals feel some relief today, as I know I do.”
Mapes’ conviction closes a major chapter in a career that saw him serve as a Madigan confidant and political enforcer for years before he was forced out amid the accusations by Garrett and others and a legislative inspector general report that stated Mapes engaged in “conduct of a sexual nature with the purpose and effect of creating an intimidating, hostile and offensive working environment.”
Following his ouster, Mapes was drawn into the federal investigation into Madigan and was charged with lying to a grand jury to protect the former speaker, who faces his own corruption trial next year. Garrett said in a statement that Mapes’ trial shed light on the way he “and the rest of the inner circle of that (Madigan) organization worked to discredit those of us who were speaking out about our toxic work environment.”
Former Madigan campaign worker Alaina Hampton was also among those who blew the whistle on the Madigan organization, accusing a top Madigan political operative of sexual harassment.
Hampton, in a statement Thursday, called Mapes’ verdict “an important step in the direction of full justice,” saying there’s also “more to be done.” She described her experience as a “symptom of a toxic culture,” which “started at the top.”
“Tim Mapes was as close to the top as it gets,” Hampton said. “Through these court proceedings, we have all had the chance to read the transcripts and listen to the recorded phone calls of Mapes and his closest colleagues strategizing in their efforts to undermine the Me Too movement in Illinois. None of it comes as a surprise.”
Two lawmakers who were among the 19 Democrats in 2021 to vote to oust Madigan as House speaker also denounced Mapes’ behavior in light of the verdict.
“Today’s verdict is a vindication for those who, over the years, were willing to stand up and speak out in the face of injustice and abuse by Mapes and his boss,” said state Rep. Kelly Cassidy of Chicago.
Rep. Stephanie Kifowit told the Tribune that Mapes’ actions were “unfortunate” and she thinks the new leadership in the House has made working there a whole “different feel” than under Madigan.
“More dialogue. More openness. A far better working environment than it was back when I started,” said Kifowit, an Oswego Democrat who has served in the House since 2013.
Thursday’s guilty verdict comes a little more than three months after four other defendants were convicted in federal court of bribery conspiracy and falsifying business records in a Madigan-related corruption scheme involving utility giant Commonwealth Edison.
Madigan and one of the “ComEd 4″ defendants, former ComEd contract lobbyist Michael McClain, are scheduled to go to trial next year on separate racketeering charges that allege an array of corrupt acts, including the ComEd scheme as well as a similar but smaller set of allegations involving AT&T’s Illinois affiliate.
Mapes’ conviction, though, once again highlighted efforts made by the Democratic-led legislature in the last two years at ethics reforms and whether such efforts are sufficient.
Shortly after Madigan left office in 2021, and before his own indictment last year, the legislature passed a series of measures aimed at preventing lawmakers from lobbying their former colleagues right after leaving office. The measures also required additional disclosures from officials on personal financial interests, among other things.
A spokesman for Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Mapes’ conviction “advances the cause of cleaning up state government and sends a message that this type of behavior will not be tolerated in Illinois.”
Since taking office more than four years ago, Pritzker “has been clear about the need to root out corruption and instill transparency and honesty at every level of state government,” spokesman Alex Gough said in a statement.
But some good-government groups, along with a former legislative inspector general and some GOP lawmakers, have highlighted what they view as weaknesses with the Democratic-led measures, including that the changes don’t give the legislative inspector general enough independence to pursue allegations of misconduct by legislators.
“We have had too many glaring reminders that we must eliminate bad actors, self-serving politicians, and corruption from our statehouse, and this is just another verdict to prove it,” House GOP Leader Tony McCombie of Savanna said in a statement. “It would be appalling if (House) Speaker (Emanuel “Chris”) Welch did not move forward legislation House Republicans have filed to address ethics and instill public trust in our government.”
McCombie’s subordinates stressed at a Thursday Zoom-based news conference that ethics reform needs to continue being a priority.
“We’re toward the end of August. The summer is almost over. Tim Mapes has been found guilty. The ‘ComEd 4′ have been found guilty. Speaker Madigan is headed to trial. And we have no indication that the Democrats have done anything on ethics reform,” said McCombie’s floor leader, Rep. Patrick Windhorst of Metropolis.
In the spring legislative session, Democrats passed ethics legislation calling on companies that provide equipment or services for automated traffic law enforcement, such as red-light cameras, from making “a campaign contribution to any political committee established to promote the candidacy of a candidate or public official.”
Pritzker signed the measure into law and its main House sponsor was state Rep. Bob Rita of Blue Island, who testified on the government’s behalf in the “ComEd 4″ and Mapes trials.
Welch’s spokeswoman, Jaclyn Driscoll, called the ethics changes passed in the House over the years “comprehensive,” noting some Republicans have voted against them. “Speaker Welch has always said he believes in due process, and a guilty verdict is a signal the law is working,” Driscoll said. “However, if (McCombie) has any ideas on how to strengthen federal perjury laws, we’re all ears.”
Kifowit, the Oswego Democrat, said she thinks the legislature will always need to review the need for more ethics training and that laws aimed at ethics reforms are never “one and done.”
“We are always striving to have a government that the people can trust and have faith in,” she said.
