In my years covering Illinois politics, I’ve known two men called “Public Official A.”
One is Rod Blagojevich and the other is Mike Madigan.
In 2005, years before he was impeached or convicted of corruption charges, court documents ominously referred to someone as “Public Official A.” It was the first noticeable stray thread that would eventually lead to the political unravelling of Blagojevich.
Last month, federal prosecutors tagged Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan with that moniker in a plea deal with Commonwealth Edison. The giant utility serving Chicago and much of northern Illinois essentially admitted to giving bribes to Madigan.
The bribes would be in the form of contracts and jobs at the giant utility that Madigan could dole out to his supporters. In the court documents, Public Official A was identified as the Illinois Speaker of the House, a post held by Madigan.
Last month, through a spokesperson, Madigan said he is innocent of wrongdoing. And he has not been charged with a crime.
Madigan and Blagojevich have a long and contentious relationship. For nearly eight years, both men faced off over the state budget and legislation. Although Madigan co-chaired the former governor’s re-election campaign, he later spearheaded the drive to impeach him. Blagojevich is the only Illinois governor to have been removed from office.
Because of this, Blagojevich brings a unique perspective to Madigan’s political maginations — and what it is like to be the target of a federal probe.
First, what does it mean to be “Public Official A?”
“It means they have a target on your back,” the former governor told me Monday during a nearly hour-long telephone interview.
After serving nearly eight years in prison on corruption charges, Blagojevich was released earlier this year when President Donald Trump commuted his term.
The gap between being Public Official A and an inmate is not very long, he said.

“It may take years; but in the course of a lifetime, it’s not very long at all. Once they have painted a bullseye on your back, they are out to get you,” Blagojevich said.
Already, several members of Madigan’s caucus have called for him to resign.
But in a statement issued last week, the House speaker said, “I understand that the last couple of weeks have been difficult for our caucus and party, and I have had many candid conversations with members of the Democratic caucus on this matter. The feedback is positive and demonstrates continued support for me and my leadership roles. I have no plans to resign.”
Blagojevich said Madigan may be hanging on to the speakership and his position as chairman of the Illinois Democratic Party to be in a better bargaining position.
Federal prosecutors pursuing cases against other elected officials have entered into plea agreements where the politician agrees to leave office in exchange for a reduced sentence.
“He has to hold onto the speakership and the chairmanship of the Democratic Party,” Blagojevich said. “It’s so he can have bargaining chips with the federal prosecutors, so that in the event that he gets indicted, which could very well happen based upon what’s happened so far, he has more bargaining chips to deal with when it comes to making a deal. Madigan is the ultimate deal maker here.”
Madigan spokeswoman Maura Possley declined Tuesday to respond to Blagojevich’s statements.  
Although Blagojevich is a Democrat, since the president commuted his sentence, he has become an enthusiastic Trump supporter, even going so far as to call himself a “Trumpocrat.”
Blagojevich contends Madigan hopes to see presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden defeat Trump so a different federal prosecutor will be appointed for Northern Illinois.
“If Biden gets elected they’re going to put a Democrat U.S. Attorney in. Madigan would pull strings. … And there’ll be all kinds of back room discussions to try to get a U.S. Attorney who will agree to throw the case out against Madigan. That’s his own path to avoid sinking with the Titanic. Otherwise I think he’s really facing a lot of cold dark nights in that North Atlantic.
Blagojevich said if the current U.S. Attorney is serious about eventually charging Madigan with  crime, he may seek to act sooner rather than later because of the possibility of an administration change.
But when pressed Blagojevich concedes he doesn’t know for sure if there is sufficient evidence to charge the House Speaker.
Blagojevich added federal prosecutors very well may now be putting pressure on those around Madigan.
“It’s been my unhappy experience of being a Public Official A. It is not a good place to be.  You learn very early on — and very quickly who your friends are. They get squeezed so hard and treated, so mercilessly, just to get them to bend and break against you. My own experience tells me that no one withstands that pressure. … Sooner or later, they’re going to abandon ship. And the captain is going to be left with the Titanic to sink all by himself.”

Scott Reeder is a veteran statehouse journalist and a freelance reporter. ScottReeder1965@gmail.com.