Former Illinois House Speaker and Democratic Party Chairman Michael J. Madigan
CHICAGO - Michael J. Madigan, the former Illinois House Speaker who led Illinois Democrats for decades and stood as one of the most powerful political figures in the state and the nation, has been sentenced to 7.5 years in prison and ordered to pay a $2.5 million fine for leading a criminal enterprise designed to use the power given him by his fellow Democrats to increase his power and steer profit to himself, his friends and his political allies.
The sentence was handed down on June 13 by U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey, bringing to a close the criminal proceedings against Madigan surrounding his indictment and eventual conviction on charges of bribery and public corruption.
In sentencing Madigan, Blakey said he believed Madigan to be a "a dedicated public servant" and a "good and decent person."
But he also noted Madigan's longstanding reputation as a ruthless power broker in Springfield and Chicago, noting his nickname as the "Velvet Hammer," according to reports published concerning the sentencing hearing.
And, while he said he was not sentencing "some myth," Blakey said the case presented by federal prosecutors and Madigan's own testimony demonstrated Madigan's disregard for the law.
Referencing Madigan's testimony during the trial, Blakey said: "It was a nauseating display of perjury and evasion."
"You lied, sir," Blakey said. "You lied."
In addition to 90 months - 7.5 years - in prison and maximum possible fine, Blakey also sentenced Madigan to an additional three years of probation after his release from prison.
Pending appeal, Madigan has been instructed to report to prison in mid October.
Madigan was indicted in 2022, when then-U.S. Attorney John Lausch unveiled evidence and allegations that Madigan and his associates had solicited and accepted bribes, in the form of favors, jobs and other benefits, from electrical utility ComEd in exchange for Madigan's help in pushing through new laws sought by ComEd allegedly to rake in billions of dollars from its Illinois electrical customers, as well as to kill legislation opposed by ComEd.
That investigation also resulted in indictments and convictions against ComEd and some of its executives and several of Madigan's prominent known associates.
For nearly all of the preceding four decades, Madigan had served as Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives. In that role, and as chairman of the Illinois Democratic Party, Madigan amassed millions of dollars in wealth, power and influence, across virtually all levels of government in the state.
Madigan wielded massive amount of power in Springfield, using his campaign coffers and tight-fisted control of the legislative process and committee assignments to keep Democrats in line and Republicans out of power.
Democrats throughout Illinois benefited from his campaign cash and influence, returning Madigan to his high office time and again and refusing to cross the Speaker.
Among the biggest contributors to Madigan's political organization were labor unions and Illinois trial lawyers.
Democrats particularly rallied around Madigan as recently as 2014-2018, during the years in which Republican Bruce Rauner served in the governor’s office, seeking to advance a range of reforms. Madigan and his fellow Democrats refused to bargain with Rauner, worsening the state's already poor financial standing and creating a crisis of governance amid the standoff.
Democrats maintained their support for Madigan throughout most of the years identified in the indictment, from 2011-2021.
Democrats eventually moved to remove Madigan as Speaker in early 2021, but only after federal prosecutors indicted several of Madigan’s close associates, and an indictment of Madigan himself became increasingly more likely.
After he was removed from the Speaker’s office, Madigan resigned from the Illinois House altogether.
Before Madigan was removed from office, he helped to broker a deal to install his successor, current House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch.
Despite the evidence presented by federal prosecutors concerning Madigan's long record of corruption, Illinois Democrats have steadfastly refused to advance meaningful ethical reforms in Springfield, which could help prevent successors from following in Madigan's footsteps.
This refusal by Madigan's fellow Democrats to address the obvious ethical and corruption charges in Springfield played prominently in public responses to Madigan's sentencing on June 13.
The Illinois Policy Institute, for instance, noted that federal corruption investigations and trials are not a substitute for Illinois lawmakers who refuse to address corruption on a state level, despite numerous and mounting cases of proven corruption in the Illinois State Capitol and elsewhere in the state.
The Illinois Policy Institute has estimated its data shows public corruption convictions cost the Illinois economy $550 million a year from 2000-2018.
"If federal corruption convictions alone prevented corruption, Illinois would be the least corrupt state in the nation," said Austin Berg, vice president of marketing for the Illinois Policy Institute and author of "The New Chicago Way."
"We need real ethics reform to solve our state’s corruption problem, rather than relying on federal investigators. Laws remain in place that grant the House speaker unilateral power: Illinois lawmakers must adopt reforms now to ensure future abuses don’t happen.”
David Greising, president of the Better Government Association, sounded a similar note in his response to Madigan's conviction.
“For years, Michael Madigan was the most powerful political figure in Illinois. He used that power to enrich himself and cronies, betraying the public trust and escalating our state’s legacy of corruption. Today’s sentence brings justice, and should be cautionary to any person in government or the private sector that corruption has consequences," Greising said.
He added: "Judges and juries are starting to confront what our state legislature has largely refused to: Crimes committed in office are uniquely corrosive and undermine trust in our system of government.
"It is high time that the legislature take a lesson from what juries, judges and the people are telling us and pass comprehensive ethics reform."
None of the state's three most powerful Democrats - Gov. JB Pritzker, Speaker Welch and state Senate President Don Harmon - referenced Madigan in any of their social media posts, as of 6 p.m. on June 13.
In a statement to the press, Harmon said: "Today’s decision is a solemn reminder to everyone who holds public office that the solitary role and responsibility of these positions is to serve the public, and that there is accountability for those who do not.”
Pritzker - even after Madigan's sentence was reported - used his account on X.com to attack Illinois U.S. Rep. Mary Miller, a Republican, for criticizing him over his June 12 testimony before the U.S. House on immigration.
In that post, Pritzker asked "Mary" if she wished to be known as a representative who "condones corruption."
Earlier in the day, Pritzker also posted on X.com that: "As long as I'm governor, Illinois will uphold our Midwestern and American values — by treating people with dignity, respect, and fairness."
Pritzker served alongside Madigan from 2018-2021 and did not criticize Madigan or the Speaker's alleged dealings and methods during that time.
The Illinois Democratic Party also did not post about the sentencing of their longtime chairman.
In a statement posted to X.com, the Illinois Republican Party said: "Today is a great day for the people of Illinois.
"But we still have a long way to go to recover from decades of Democrat corruption. Don't forget that nearly every Democrat in Illinois has benefited from Madigan's corruption and sold their soul for his political machine."
