By Benjamin Cox on February 9, 2021 at 4:46pm
L to R: Lausch and Milhiser
Illinois’ Congressional Delegation is unhappy with the current president over some recent terminations. The Chicago Sun-Times reports that President Joe Biden will ask for the resignation of nearly all Donald Trump-appointed U.S. attorneys, including the Chicago-based John Lausch and John Milhiser based in Springfield. Lausch has been heading the investigation in Illinois into the ComEd patronage and bribery scheme that has ensnared former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and several of his associates.
18
th District Congressman Rodney Davis, 15
th District Congresswoman Mary Miller, and Senators Tammy Duckworth and Dick Durbin have all expressed their displeasure with the announcement, wanting to keep Lausch on the job. U.S. attorneys are nominated by a president, subject to Senate confirmation. Lausch received unanimous bi-partisan approval in the Senate in November 2017.
Illinois’ two Democratic U.S. senators said Tuesday say they are opposed to the immediate dismissal by President Joseph Biden of the U.S. attorney for northern Illinois.
Republicans, Democrats ask Biden to keep Chicago s federal prosecutor
By AP NEWS
Joseph Biden of the U.S. attorney for northern Illinois.
U.S. attorneys are nominated by a president, subject to Senate confirmation. John Lausch, who was nominated by former Republican President
Donald Trump, was confirmed by the Senate in November 2017.
It is common for presidents to ask for the resignations of U.S. attorneys appointed by the opposite political party. Lausch’s predecessor, Zachary Fardon, left in March 2017, when then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions asked for the resignations of U.S. attorneys appointed under the Obama administration.
It was reported Tuesday that Biden has asked almost all for their resignations, including Lausch. However, Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth want Lausch to stay on the job to conclude investigations currently underway. The two senators also note they led the screening committee that selected Lausch from a field of nearly two dozen candidates.
It was reported Tuesday that Biden has asked almost all for their resignations, including Lausch. However, Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth want Lausch to stay on the job to conclude investigations currently underway. The two senators also note they led the screening committee that selected Lausch from a field of nearly two dozen candidates.
“While the President has the right to remove U.S. attorneys, there is precedent for U.S. attorneys in the Northern District of Illinois to remain in office to conclude sensitive investigations,” Durbin and Duckworth said in a joint statement. “We believe Mr. Lausch should be permitted to continue in his position until his successor is confirmed by the Senate, and we urge the Biden administration to allow him to do so.”
Normal, IL, USA / www.cities929.com
Feb 9, 2021 3:15 PM
(The Center Square) – The Illinois House returns to the State Capitol in Springfield for the first time in nearly a year Wednesday, and they’ll take up rules that govern House proceedings.
The rules have been crafted over nearly four decades by former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago. Madigan lost his leadership post last month.
New Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch promised to bring changes to the rules. Those proposed changes were filed Monday.
One proposed rule change, Assistant Majority Leader Jaime Andrade, D-Chicago, said, is term limits for speaker. Another change allows remote committee work because of COVID-19.