Rep. Lauren Underwood Ignores Question About Investigating Alleged Rape Downstate

Freshman Rep. Lauren Underwood walked away when asked if she believed Democrat State House Speaker Michael Madigan should investigate an alleged rape in Champaign that was apparently covered up by a state worker. A close ally of Madigan’s mentioned the alleged rape in an email that was sent to seek leniency for the worker in an unrelated discipline matter.

WBEZ: “A powerful former Springfield lobbyist and close friend of House Speaker Michael Madigan once sought leniency for a state worker in a disciplinary case by arguing that the worker “kept his mouth shut” about an unspecified rape downstate.”

ABC-7 on January 9, 2020: “Madigan announced earlier this month that he would not convene a legislative committee to investigate the alleged cover-up of a rape. The alleged crime came to light in an email written by a close Madigan ally back in 2012.”

State and federal lawmakers from both parties have called for a special committee to be convened to investigate the allegations. Madigan has done nothing but issue a statement claiming he had “no knowledge” of the incident – despite his close proximity to Michael McClain, a longtime friend of Madigan who revealed the cover-up in an email.