Democratic kingpin Michael Madigan faces a potential 12.5-year prison sentence at age 83, effectively condemning the corrupt former Illinois House Speaker to die behind bars for his massive bribery scheme.
Key Takeaways
- Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, 83, was convicted on 10 of 23 counts including bribery and wire fraud in a scheme with Commonwealth Edison
- Federal prosecutors are seeking a 12.5-year prison sentence and $1.5 million fine, which would be the longest corruption sentence since Rod Blagojevich
- Madigan’s defense argues for probation and home confinement, calling the recommended sentence “draconian” for a man who would be 94 upon release
- Despite accumulating a $40 million personal fortune, Madigan’s attorneys claim the crimes “enriched him not one penny”
- Over 200 letters from supporters, including Madigan’s wife, have been submitted pleading for leniency ahead of Friday’s sentencing
Another Illinois Democrat Faces Justice
Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, once the most powerful Democrat in the state, now awaits sentencing after being convicted on 10 of 23 federal counts including bribery, conspiracy, and wire fraud. Federal prosecutors have recommended a stunning 12.5-year prison sentence and a $1.5 million fine for the 83-year-old political operator who controlled Illinois politics for decades. If implemented, this would represent the harshest corruption sentence in Illinois since former Governor Rod Blagojevich’s 14-year term.
Prosecutors have painted Madigan as the architect of a sophisticated bribery scheme involving utility giant Commonwealth Edison, arguing that his actions severely damaged public trust in government. “Madigan was in a special position of trust and responsibility to the public. Yet he deprived all residents of Illinois of honest government and eroded the public’s trust,” prosecutors wrote in their sentencing recommendation.
Defense Claims “Draconian” Punishment
Madigan’s legal team has aggressively pushed back against the prosecution’s sentencing recommendation, filing documents that characterize the proposed term as effectively a death sentence. His attorneys argue that at his advanced age, Madigan would likely die in prison if given the recommended sentence, which would keep him incarcerated until approximately age 94. The defense has instead proposed a five-year probation with the first year under home confinement.
“Former Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan’s attorneys have attacked prosecutors’ ‘draconian’ recommendation that he serve 12½ years in prison in the ComEd scandal, likening the proposed term to a life sentence for an old man who is ‘not the villain of their constructed narrative,” said Madigan’s attorneys.
In a particularly bold claim, Madigan’s attorneys have emphasized that despite his conviction, the former Speaker did not personally profit from the scheme. “The government seeks to condemn an 83-year-old man to die behind bars for crimes that enriched him not one penny,” his attorneys argued in their filing. This defense comes despite prosecutors revealing that Madigan has amassed a personal fortune exceeding $40 million, primarily through his property tax appeal law practice.
A Legacy of Corruption
Prosecutors have scoffed at Madigan’s request for probation, calling it “extraordinary leniency” given the severity of his crimes. They noted that Madigan continues to downplay the jury’s verdict and assert his innocence despite overwhelming evidence. The government’s filing specifically pointed to the irony of Madigan’s substantial wealth making his corrupt behavior even more egregious: “Madigan’s greed is even more appalling given his law firm’s success,” prosecutors wrote.
Madigan’s wife Shirley has submitted a videotaped plea for leniency, citing her own health issues and her husband’s role as her primary caretaker. This appeal is part of over 200 letters from family, friends, and public figures calling for reduced punishment. Interestingly, prosecutors argue these letters inadvertently support evidence of Madigan’s corruption by highlighting his immense influence over others – the very power they say he abused for personal gain.
With sentencing scheduled for Friday, Madigan’s case represents yet another chapter in Illinois’ long history of Democratic political corruption. Following in the footsteps of convicted former Governors George Ryan and Rod Blagojevich, Madigan’s fall from grace serves as a stark reminder of the endemic corruption that has plagued Illinois politics for generations under Democratic control.
