"The crimes charged and proven at trial demonstrate that Madigan engaged in corrupt activity at the highest level of state government for nearly a decade," federal prosecutors argued in their sentencing memo. "Time after time, Madigan exploited his immense power for his own personal benefit by trading his public office for private gain for himself and his associates, all the while carefully and deliberately concealing his conduct from detection."
Madigan’s long-running reign as Speaker of the House ended with his ouster in January 2021 amid a federal bribery investigation. He resigned his legislative seat one month later. Madigan had served in the legislature for more than 50 years, 36 of those years as Speaker. For much of that time, he simultaneously led the Illinois Democratic Party, tightening his stranglehold not just on legislators, but on all Democratic elected officials in Illinois.
“Mike Madigan’s fall from power is no surprise — it’s the bill coming due for decades of corruption,” stated House Republican Leader Tony McCombie after learning of the recommended sentencing. “He betrayed the public trust, lined his pockets, and now faces justice. Illinois deserves better. It’s time to turn the page and end the era of crooked politics for good.”
Republicans continue to call for stronger ethics measures in the wake of Madigan's conviction.
“No amount of time behind bars can pay back the people of Illinois for the corruption that Mike Madigan poisoned our statehouse with over his decades in power, but I commend federal prosecutors for seeking as strong a sentence as they could," said Deputy Republican Leader Ryan Spain. “While I won’t hold my breath waiting for it, this should be a message to Democrats in the legislature that it is long past time to fix the ethical loopholes in Illinois government that have eroded public trust.
“I’ve said more times than I can count, Illinois needs to act on ethics reform, so we can stop relying on federal prosecutors to clean up our mess," continued Spain. "The time for honest, transparent government in the state of Illinois is now!”