This afternoon, former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan (D) has been chargedwith22 countsof racketeering and bribery. Expect him to face serious jail time and massive fines.
Madigan, sensing his presence was beginning to be a major hindrance to the state Democratic Party’s candidates chances of winning, resigned as Speaker of the House in early January 2021, and later from the Illinois Democratic Party Chair and eventually his seat.
Jason Meisner and Ray Long at Chicago Tribune:
Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, for decades the most powerful politician in the state, was indicted Wednesday on federal racketeering charges alleging the 13th Ward political operation that he built was a criminal enterprise that provided receive personal financial rewards for himself and his associates.
The 22-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury comes after a yearslong federal investigation and alleges Madigan participated in an array of bribery schemes aimed at using the power of his office for personal gain.
Also charged in the indictment was Madigan’s longtime confidant, Michael McClain, a former state legislator and lobbyist who is facing separate charges alleging he orchestrated an alleged bribery scheme by Commonwealth Edison.
That same alleged scheme forms the backbone of the indictment returned Wednesday, outlining a plan by the utility giant to pay thousands of dollars to lobbyists favored by Madigan in order to win his influence over legislation the company wanted passed in Springfield.
The indictment also accused Madigan of illegally soliciting business for his private property tax law firm during discussions to turn a state-owned parcel of land in Chinatown into a commercial development.
Jon Seidel at Chicago Sun-Times:
Former House Speaker Michael Madigan has been indicted on criminal charges as part of an ongoing federal political corruption investigation, sources said.
The once powerful politician has been charged with a racketeering conspiracy and bribery along with longtime political confidant Michael McClain.
Madigan is now one of the most significant politicians in Illinois history ever to face criminal charges, despite having left office more than a year ago. The news is the culmination of one of the most significant, expansive public corruption investigations Illinois has seen in years, already leaving an indelible mark on state politics by knocking Madigan out of power in January 2021.
The powerful Southwest Side Democrat had held his seat in the state House of Representatives since 1971 and served as speaker for all but two years between 1983 and 2020.
The full indictment, obtained by the I-Team, contains a complex list of 22 counts, including for bribery and racketeering, allegedly executed by Madigan and a web of co-conspirators.
Madigan has been under investigation as part of a federal corruption probe of ComEd where he was implicated, but not charged in a bribery and jobs scheme. The wide-ranging alleged corruption scheme involved business executives and politicians.
In 2020 Madigan friend Michael McClain, former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore, top ComEd lobbyist John Hooker and Jay Doherty, the former president of the City Club were charged with bribery in a criminal case in Chicago. Madigan has wrongdoing and denied personal knowledge of the bribery scheme and said he never expected someone to be hired for a job in exchange for an action he took.
Dan Mihalopoulos, Dave McKinney, and Tony Arnold at WBEZ:
Former Illinois House Speaker and ex-Democratic Party boss Michael Madigan was indicted Wednesday in federal court with racketeering, allegedly for taking part in bribery schemes for his own personal gain, according to the indictment.
In unsealing the long-anticipated case, federal prosecutors targeted a Chicago legend who rose from the Southwest Side’s Democratic ward politics to become the most influential figure at the Illinois Capitol for decades.
The prosecution of Madigan — who set a national record by serving as House speaker for 36 years — represents the most significant corruption case in the notoriously toxic world of Chicago and Illinois politics since the conviction a decade ago of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
WCIA’s Mark Maxwell on Twitter:
Former Illinois House Speak... by WGN Web Desk
Madigan held the record for longest tenure for State House leader in Illinois and the United States, as he held the Speakership between 1983 and 2021 in 2 different stints, except for a 2-year hiatus in the mid-1990s. Now, his legacy of a firm grip that he presided over the House has all but crumbled into ashes with this indictment news.