Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, the longest-serving legislative leader in U.S. history, was sentenced Friday to more than seven years in federal prison for using his position to enrich himself and his inner circle through a sweeping corruption scheme.
Madigan, who was also ordered to pay a $2.5 million fine, was convicted earlier this year on 10 of 23 counts of corruption — including bribery, wire fraud and conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States.
Following a four-month trial in Chicago federal court, Madigan was acquitted on seven counts, while the jury was deadlocked on six others.
The former political powerhouse was accused of conspiring to have utility company ComEd make payments to his associates “in return for performing little or no legitimate work,” according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois.
Prosecutors said the payments were made so Madigan would help push through legislation favorable to the utility giant.
Madigan’s lawyers, who had requested five years’ probation with one year of home confinement, argued that prosecutors had cast him as a “villain of their constructed narrative.”
On Friday, the once-powerful Illinois Democrat addressed the court before his sentence was read, saying he was “truly sorry for putting the people of the state of Illinois through this.”
Madigan, who served as speaker through seven governors, said that while he wasn’t perfect, he “tried to do [his] best to serve the people of the state of Illinois.” He pleaded for leniency, asking to avoid any prison time so he could take care of his ailing wife.
However, U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey said that while he believed Madigan is a kind and helpful man, he also deliberately chose to be dishonest.
“Being great is hard. Being honest is not,” Blakey said. “It’s hard to commit crimes. It actually takes effort.”
With News Wire Services
