West Cook News

House Minority Leader Jim Durkin is under scrutiny after his named appeared in the Madigan documents, the trove over 200 emails and other documents detailing an alleged bribery scheme.

In an email, a Madigan-aligned lobbyist discusses possibly placing a Madigan selected spokesman for his office. 

“At various times over the last two years we have discussed [redacted name]’  status and your potential interest that she might be a fit for ComEd,” Scott Reimers wrote in an email sent on Sept. 16, 2013. “I'm passing a long (sic) her resume with my highest recommendation.”

Reimers went on to add that he was under the impression that Durkin had someone specifically in mind for his spokesperson so the woman Reimers was recommending was exploring other opportunities. 

“Even though Durkin is moving on with someone else, she has a strong relationships with our members,” Reimers said.

Over the years there has been a lot of speculation about Durkin’s connection with Madigan and the Democratic machine.

In an interview with West Cook News in 2017, former congressional candidate Jeffrey Leef said people like Durkin are only in office because Madigan allows them to be.

“If they have been given the blessing of speaker Madigan, then they are likely either literally or figuratively on his payroll,” Leef told the publication.

Leef’s comments came after Durkin showed little assistance to a 32 percent permanent tax hike imposed on Illinois taxpayers. 

That's not the only connection Durkin has to powerful Democrats. He reportedly received financial support from Chicago Alderman Ed Burke, West Cook News reported.

After mounting questions about his leadership, Durkin fired off two cease-and-desist letters to Local Government Information Services (LGIS) after a reporter emailed several lawmakers asking what they thought of Durkin allegedly trading his allegiance to Illinois Democrats in exchange for campaign funding.

Another controversy involving Durkin stems back to June 2013 when former mayor Henry A. Vicenik testified that Durkin tried to facilitate a meeting between one of the principal parties behind Chicago adult entertainment club Joe's Tea Room, David Donahue. 

Donohue is a former aide to Madigan and former Cicero Town President Betty Loren-Maltese, who spent eight years in federal prison for stealing $12 million from the city.

Durkin denied calling Vicenick to arrange the meeting despite Vicenick giving sworn testimony that he did.