Once-Powerful Illinois Democrat Sentenced to 7.5 Years in Prison
Michael J. Madigan, once among the most powerful figures in Illinois politics, was sentenced on Friday to 7.5 years in prison and a $2.5 million fine for his role in a bribery scheme born of the old Chicago political machine, which traded government access and contracts for jobs and favors.
Mr. Madigan, a Democrat, was convicted in federal court in February of 10 criminal counts that included conspiracy, bribery and wire fraud. The jury in the case, which deliberated for 11 days, delivered a split verdict, acquitting him on seven more charges he faced, including attempted extortion. He has denied any wrongdoing, and testified during the trial that he was simply trying to help his constituents.
On Friday, Mr. Madigan addressed the court before the sentence was read.
'I'm truly sorry for putting the people of the state of Illinois through this,' he said. 'I tried to do my best. I am not perfect.'
Before reading the sentence, Judge John Robert Blakey of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois admonished Mr. Madigan, saying that he gave false testimony during the trial as 'part of a willful attempt to mislead the jury.'
'You lied,' he said. 'You did not have to. You had a right to sit there and exercise your right to silence. But you took that stand and you took the law into your own hands.'
Mr. Madigan, 83, was indicted in March 2022, accused of soliciting bribes from Commonwealth Edison, an electrical utility known as ComEd. Prosecutors said the utility hired associates of Mr. Madigan as subcontractors who performed little or no work, in exchange for his support of state legislation that benefited the company.
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