SPRINGFIELD, IL – State Representative Dave Severin (R-Benton) says former longtime Democratic House Speaker Mike Madigan’s guilty verdicts on multiple counts of bribery conspiracy and wire fraud in his federal corruption trial is step one in rooting out the public corruption that has plagued state government and made Illinois a poster child for unethical, criminal political behavior for decades.
“Five governors sent to jail, multiple legislators busted for bribery and corruption, and now, the longest ever serving Speaker of the House has been found guilty by a jury of his peers on multiple counts for a decade long conspiracy that saw Madigan using his power to illegally influence companies and land jobs and contracts for his political pals,” Severin said. “It’s about time. I’m thankful to the jury for their service. The time to start cleaning up Illinois government was many years ago.”
“Hopefully, this guilty verdict will be a stark wake-up call to Madigan’s handpicked Democrat leadership that still runs the House of Representatives that the time is NOW to move on ethics and corruption reforms. No more lawmaker one day, lobbyist the next. No more trading jobs for passing bills. No more kneecapping the Legislative Inspector General. It’s time to clean up state government so our citizens can have faith in the process and so our state is no longer the laughing stock of the country when it comes to corruption,” Severin said.
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