Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan exits after the jury delivered a partial verdict in his and former lobbyist Michael McClain’s corruption trial at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse on Feb. 12, 2025. | Audrey Richardson/Chicago Tribune
By Daniel I. Dorfman | Pioneer Press
Both current and former Illinois legislators are applauding last week’s guilty verdict in the corruption case against former House Speaker Michael Madigan. Now there are calls for additional changes in laws in an attempt to change the state’s lengthy history of political chicanery.
On Feb. 12, a federal jury found Madigan guilty of 10 criminal counts including bribery, wire fraud, and conspiracy. Following two weeks of deliberations after a trial that began last October, the jury acquitted on seven other charges and did not come to a verdict on other counts, including racketeering conspiracy.
With the verdict, Madigan joins a list of many other high-profile Illinois politicians convicted for illegal behavior.
Madigan, who first became Speaker in 1983, started to lose his grip on power several years ago as some scandals reached his office.
State Rep. Marty McLaughlin (R-Barrington) did not serve in the House when Madigan was Speaker but was interested enough in the case that he attended Madigan’s trial one day last fall.
“It was eye-opening to be at the trial and it was disappointing to hear some of the testimony,” he said.
He added, “As a legislator, we should be spending more time on solving problems and less time on backroom deals and phone calls and helping friends out,” he said. “We are supposed to be helping out constituents in the state, we are not supposed to be helping out specific people for inappropriate reasons.”
Read more here.
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