Long-Serving Illinois Democrat Sentenced To Years Behind Bars In Corruption Case

Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s stunning fall from power ended Friday with a seven and a half year prison sentence and a $2.5 million fine.

The once-mighty speaker, who held the title of longest-serving legislative leader in American history, was convicted of trading legislation for favors and financial perks for his friends and political allies.

U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey handed down the sentence in federal court in Chicago, closing the chapter on a man once known as the “Velvet Hammer” for his quiet but ruthless grip on power. Madigan, now 83, was found guilty in February on 10 of 23 counts after a four-month corruption trial that featured 60 witnesses and piles of evidence, including documents, photos, and recorded conversations,

Prosecutors had pushed for 12.5 years behind bars. Madigan’s lawyers begged for probation, arguing he was a decent man who meant well and needed to be home to care for his ailing wife, Shirley, who appeared in a video to plead for his release.

But Blakey didn’t buy it, pointing out that sentencing guidelines allowed for up to 105 years due to the scope of Madigan’s crimes, including what the judge called “a nauseating display of perjury and evasion.”

“You lied. You did not have to. You had a right to sit there and exercise your right to silence,” Blakey said. “But you took the stand and you t

Related Posts

Adam Schiff Learns Fate Following Criminal Referral For Mortgage Fraud

Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., is reportedly under criminal investigation for alleged mortgage fraud, according to a Trump administration source cited by Fox News. The news was revealed…

Senate GOP Leaders Succeed In Protecting Trump Tariffs

The Republican-controlled U.S. Senate voted against a resolution that would have essentially overturned President Trump’s 10% tariffs on all imported products, with just three Republicans joining Democrats…

Cory Booker Fights With Fellow Senate Dems Over Trump: Report

Tensions are running high within the Senate Democratic caucus after Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) launched into a heated tirade against several of his colleagues, accusing them of…

‘Shut Up!’: Democrat Senator Goes Off on Ocasio-Cortez

Efforts by “Squad” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and other Democrats to impeach President Donald Trump over his strike on Iran slammed into a wall on Monday, with…

Federal Appeals Court Backs Texas Mail-In Voter ID Law

Texas can require people applying to vote by mail to submit identification numbers that match state records, a federal appeals court ruled Monday. The Fifth Circuit Court…

Trump Defends DOJ Official Over Ghislaine Maxwell Meeting, Prison Transfer

President Donald Trump said he had no knowledge of Ghislaine Maxwell’s recent prison transfer and didn’t personally approve it. “I didn’t know about it at all, nope,…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *