Illinois Republican members of the U.S. House have sent a letter to President Trump urging him not to grant a presidential pardon to former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. The letter, signed by Representatives Mike Bost (IL-12), Darin LaHood (IL-16), and Mary Miller (IL-15), follows Madigan’s sentencing to seven and a half years in prison for conspiracy, wire fraud, and bribery.
“We write with a unified message as Republican Members of the United States House of Representatives for the State of Illinois to express our concerns regarding a request for a presidential pardon from former Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan,” the members said. “Illinois families and taxpayers have suffered for decades under entrenched corruption, and a pardon in this case would send a dangerous message that public officials can betray the public trust with impunity.
“The bribery and corruption scheme involved the misuse of state resources, including directing public utility contracts and payments to benefit private political allies. This was a deliberate, long-running pattern of abuse of public office.
“Granting clemency in this case would not only reward a lifetime of unethical behavior but also embolden other public officials to exploit their offices for personal gain. For these reasons, we respectfully urge you to deny any request for a presidential pardon from Michael Madigan. Denying his request is the best way to ensure Illinois residents know their leaders are held to the highest standards of integrity.”
Mike Bost has represented Illinois’s 12th congressional district since 2015 and has won several elections over opponents such as Chip Markel in 2022, Raymond Lenzi in 2020, Charles Baricevic in 2016, William L. Enyart in 2014, and Brendan Kelly in 2018.
The full text of the letter is available online at https://bost.house.gov/2025/12/illinois-congressional-republicans-urge-no-pardon-for-madigan.
