New legislative ethics watchdog approved by Illinois House over Republican objection

The Illinois House of Representatives on Thursday approved former federal Judge Michael McCuskey to be the Statehouse's new legislative inspector general. The Senate approved his nomination on Wednesday. 

McCuskey is a former federal and state judge who served on the Illinois Supreme Court’s Commission on Professionalism and the Illinois State University Board of Trustees. 

The legislative inspector general position is responsible for investigating ethics complaints made against lawmakers and their staff, such as allegations of corruption or sexual misconduct.

The former officeholder, Carol Pope, resigned on Jan. 6. 

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“The position of legislative inspector general has sat vacant long enough," said House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch, D-Hillside. "Today, the Illinois House acted in a bipartisan way and voted in favor of oversight and ethics." 

McCuskey's nomination was approved by a 77-16 vote, with 19 lawmakers voting "present."

The vote fell largely along party lines, though some Republicans joined the Democratic majority in approving McCuskey's nomination. 

Lawmakers' debate around who should fill the role has been going on since July, when Pope announced her intent to resign. 

On Thursday, House Republican Leader Jim Durkin, R-Western Springs, said the selection of the next legislative inspector general is "probably the most important decision we're going to make this session." 

Republicans and Democrats have been divided on both who should take up the office and how that person should be selected, though lawmakers on both sides of the aisle praised McCuskey as a man of high integrity. 

"He will be very competent in this role," said Rep. Tim Butler, R-Springfield. "I believe that." 

Republicans took issue with McCuskey's nomination because he did not go through the process of being selected by a search committee that was formed after Pope left. That process is laid out in a state law passed in 2017. 

Instead, McCuskey's name was advanced to the General Assembly directly by members of the Legislative Ethics Commission, the bipartisan group responsible for both selecting people for the role and working with the office holder. 

That search committee advanced three candidates, though none of them gained majority support from the Legislative Ethics Commission, according to commission member Rep. Maurice West, D-Rockford. 

"Ladies and gentlemen, don't do this to judge McCuskey," said Rep. Norine Hammond, R-Macomb during the debate. "Don't do this to the legislative inspector general position." 

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Members of the Legislative Ethics Commission interviewed McCuskey this week. 

"Quite frankly, I don't know if he's a Democrat or Republican," said Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth, D-Peoria. "What I do know about Justice McCuskey is that he's a good man." 

McCuskey ran for judge in Illinois as a Democrat and donated $250 to Gordon-Booth's 2020 reelection campaign, according to records from the state board of elections. 

McCuskey also made a $250 campaign donation to Rep. Ryan Spain, R-Peoria, though most of his political donations have been to Democratic candidates. 

Contact Andrew Adams: aadams1@gannett.com; (312)-291-1417; twitter.com/drewjayadams.