From State Senator Don DeWitte:
Madigan Sentenced to 7 1/2 Years for Public Corruption
Since 1922 Indictment 0 Ethics Reforms Targeting the General Assembly Have Passed
Once the most powerful politician in Illinois, former House Speaker Michael Madigan was sentenced on Friday to 7½ years in federal prison and a $2.5 million fine for corruption.
It’s a stunning fall for a man who ruled state politics like a mob boss, controlling government, rewarding allies, punishing opponents, and building one of the most formidable political machines in the country.
Madigan was indicted in 2022 after years of federal investigations.
Prosecutors charged him with racketeering, bribery, wire fraud, and extortion for orchestrating a scheme in which he traded official favors for personal and political gain.
At the heart of the case was a series of deals involving utility giant ComEd, which prosecutors said secured favorable legislation in exchange for funneling no-work jobs and contracts to Madigan’s allies.
The trial revealed a political operation run like an organized crime syndicate—one that blurred the lines between public service and personal power. Madigan was ultimately convicted on all major counts, ending a career that shaped state government for half a century.
But while Madigan faces justice, the system that enabled him remains intact.
Not a single ethics reform targeting the General Assembly has passed since his indictment.
While Senate Republicans have introduced measures calling for independent oversight and tighter revolving-door laws, Democratic leaders have blocked action.
Without meaningful reform, Madigan’s conviction may serve as a warning, but not the fix Illinois still desperately needs.
