Plot twist needed in story of corruption and abuse of power

Once the influential chairman of the Illinois Democratic Party and powerful Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives, Michael J. Madigan was found guilty of wire fraud, bribery and conspiracy to commit bribery earlier this year and today was sentenced to 7.5 years in a federal penitentiary followed by 3 years probation, and ordered to immediately pay a $2.5 million fine.

The federal government is seeking a prison sentence of 12.5 years and a fine of $1.5 million for former Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives, Michael J. Madigan who was convicted on corruption charges earlier this year. Madigan will face sentencing on June 13.

 
"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."

A jury has found Michael J. Madigan guilty of corruption charges.

Michael J. Madigan’s long-running reign as Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives ended with his ouster as Speaker 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 of the House. 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.

Each year on December 9, countries around the globe come together to recognize International Anti-Corruption Day which calls for awareness about the impacts of corruption and the importance of standing against it. Since its establishment by the United Nations in 2003, the day marks the adoption of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), the first and only legally binding international anti-corruption instrument designed to combat public and private corruption. As of 2024, 191 countries have ratified the UNCAC, a testament to the prevailing struggle against corruption and global recognition of the need to address it.

The web of alleged deceit, lies, and corruption tied to Illinois House Democrats has been well-chronicled in the last several years, with the latest example being the conviction of former House Speaker Michael Madigan’s Chief of Staff Timothy Mapes on perjury and obstruction of justice charges in August. It was during that trial that another scandal was uncovered, as a top Democratic strategy firm was found to have been advising Madigan while at the same time providing support to the woman who accused one of his aides of sexual harassment and his inner circle of retaliation.