BENTON, IL – On Friday, former Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan was sentenced to 7.5 years in prison, 3 years probation, and a $2.5 million fine for crimes he committed while serving as Illinois’ longest-serving Speaker. In 2022, Madigan was indicted by a grand jury for crimes involving a decade-long scheme to collude with utility giant Commonwealth Edison that saw Madigan land no-show jobs and lobbying contracts for political allies in exchange for passage of legislation favorable to the company. Rep. Severin, who served in the House during Madigan’s tenure, says the former Speaker and now-convicted felon deserves every minute of the sentence handed down in a Chicago courtroom today.
“Mike Madigan is a convicted felon. He belongs in jail, and that’s where he’s going for a long time,” Severin said. “Madigan ruled Illinois with an iron fist, stopped good legislation, rewarded political allies, and consolidated unprecedented power while lining his pockets with money from his corruption. The crimes that Madigan perpetrated upon the people of Illinois bring to mind a famous quote, “Absolute power corrupts, absolutely.”
Severin is a long-time proponent of meaningful ethics reforms that would end the revolving door for legislators looking to become lobbyists and legislation to end the practice of legislators serving as lobbyists for municipal and county governments. Severin also supports legislation banning public officials from using campaign cash to fund their legal defense in public corruption trials. Madigan used millions in cash he raised while he was Speaker to mount his legal defense.
“If Madigan’s conviction and lengthy prison sentence don’t cause Democrats to act on ethics reforms, maybe nothing ever will, and that is a shame,” Severin said. “I stand ready to vote to change Illinois’ culture of corruption for good. I urge my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to join me.”
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