A federal choose is anticipated to condemn former Illinois Home Speaker Michael J. Madigan on Friday for a number of corruption convictions involving the abuse of an workplace he held for many years.
A jury in February convicted Madigan on 10 prison counts, together with bribery conspiracy, wire fraud and different crimes. The jury delivered its verdict on the finish of a four-month trial that includes greater than 60 witnesses. All advised, the panel convicted Madigan for his position in two schemes.
The primary scheme concerned ComEd, which paid 5 Madigan allies $1.3 million over eight years in order that Madigan would look extra favorably on the utility’s laws in Springfield. The opposite concerned a plot to put in then-Chicago Ald. Danny Solis on a state authorities board in trade for Solis’ assist touchdown non-public enterprise for Madigan’s tax appeals legislation agency.
Prosecutors requested U.S. District Decide John Blakey to provide Madigan 12 ½ years behind bars. Protection attorneys sought probation for the Southwest Aspect Democrat. Almost 250 individuals wrote letters supporting Madigan, and his spouse made a video-recorded plea to the choose.
Madigan, the nation’s longest-serving state Home chief, served as speaker of the Illinois Home from 1983 till 2021, apart from two years when Republicans took management. Alongside the best way, he developed a popularity as an omnipotent political wizard who wielded huge affect over legal guidelines affecting practically each facet of life within the state.
A political disciple of the late Mayor Richard J. Daley, Madigan grew up in Chicago’s tight-knit thirteenth Ward. He defined to the jury that his father was a union man, concerned in native politics, and an alcoholic.
However on the witness stand, Madigan denied that he’d ever traded his public workplace for personal achieve, or demanded or accepted one thing of worth in trade for an official act. Prosecutors now say Madigan dedicated perjury when he testified in his personal protection.
In addition they disclosed this month that Madigan has an estimated web value of $40 million, although Blakey wound up placing that from the document on the request of Madigan’s attorneys.
The probe that snared Madigan dates again to 2014. Prosecutors secured his conviction partly with assist from Solis. The longtime former twenty fifth Ward Council member agreed to put on a wire for the FBI after brokers confronted him with proof of his personal wrongdoing.
Solis additionally helped the feds convict ex-Chicago Ald. Edward M. Burke, who’s already serving a two-year jail time period.
Solis struck a three-year cope with prosecutors, wherein they agreed to hunt dismissal of a bribery cost filed towards him in 2022. A choose tossed the cost in Might, that means Solis will get to stroll away along with his clear prison document intact.
In all, the investigation led to prison fees towards roughly 20 individuals. 9 have gone to jail to date. 4 others are set to be sentenced within the coming weeks. They’re Madigan ally Michael McClain, former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore, ex-ComEd lobbyist John Hooker and onetime Metropolis Membership President Jay Doherty.
