In his first public remarks since his email surfaced asking for leniency for a state employee who “kept his mouth shut” on an unspecified rape, an embattled Illinois lobbyist told WBEZ on Thursday that he had been contacted by federal authorities investigating corruption and admitted that it would be “hard to betray” himself.

In a letter to Illinois Senate Republican Leader Bill Brady, the director of Illinois State Police called allegations of a possible rape cover-up involving a powerful lobbyist “repulsive.” NBC 5’s Mary Ann Ahern reports.

In his first public remarks since his email surfaced asking for leniency for a state employee who “kept his mouth shut” on an unspecified rape, an embattled Illinois lobbyist told WBEZ on Thursday that he had been contacted by federal authorities investigating corruption and admitted that it would be “hard to betray” himself.

NBC 5’s Mary Ann Ahern has the latest developments after an explosive email from a confidante of House Speaker Mike Madigan hinted at a rape cover-up.

NBC 5 political reporter asks Gov. J.B. Pritzker for his reaction to a controversy surrounding an explosive email from a confidant of House Speaker Michael Madigan hinting at a rape cover-up.

Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan on Thursday rejected a request for a House investigation into a 2012 email that surfaced earlier in the week, in which a close associate of Madigan advocated for a state employee by saying he “kept his mouth shut” on an unspecified rape.

The speaker of the Illinois House said Wednesday that he had no knowledge of an alleged unreported rape that was referenced in an email written in 2012 by one of his close friends, a powerful lobbyist, and sent to the office of former Gov. Pat Quinn.

Multiple state lawmakers and two women at the center of high-profile sexual harassment cases in Illinois are calling for an investigation into a bombshell report that emerged Tuesday alleging that a powerful lobbyist in Speaker Michael Madigan’s inner circle once advocated for a state employee via email by saying he “kept his mouth shut” on an unspecified rape.