Metro East Sun

A federal jury has convicted former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan on 10 counts of bribery, conspiracy and wire fraud. 

One of the most vocal critics of Madigan’s long reign, U.S. Rep. Mike Bost (R-Ill.), expressed his approval of the verdict, calling it a moment of justice for Illinois.

“A federal jury has just found Mike Madigan GUILTY of bribery and wire fraud. Folks in Southern Illinois know I’ve been very vocal in calling out his blatant corruption, and I’m glad to see justice is being served,” Bost said on X. 

Former Illinois State House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) | twitter.com/speaker_madigan

Bost has been in Congress since 2015 and currently represents the 12th Congressional District which includes parts of Madison and St. Clair counties, and all of Alexander, Franklin, Hamilton, Jackson, Jefferson, Monroe, Perry, Pulaski, Randolph, Union and Williamson counties.

Madigan, who served as Illinois House Speaker for 36 years, making him the longest-serving leader of any state or federal legislative body in U.S. history, faced charges related to corrupt schemes involving the state’s largest utility, Commonwealth Edison (ComEd). 

The trial, which included extensive wiretap evidence and recorded conversations, painted a vivid picture of how Madigan used his political power to enrich himself and reward political allies at the expense of the public.

One of the most damning revelations involved Madigan orchestrating a job for state Rep. Eddie Acevedo in exchange for AT&T’s support on crucial legislation.

This revelation, along with the other charges, ultimately led to Madigan’s conviction, but the jury’s deliberations were not without controversy. 

After over 60 hours of deliberations, the jury returned a partial verdict, finding Madigan guilty on 10 of 17 counts. But they were unable to reach a consensus on 12 others, including a charge of racketeering conspiracy.

While Madigan’s legal troubles mount, the fallout from his decades-long grip on Illinois politics is far-reaching. 

As a result of his conviction, Madigan is now ineligible to receive any pension benefits from the General Assembly Retirement System—a blow to his long-standing political legacy. His actions and the widespread corruption in Illinois have become a flashpoint for calls for major ethics reforms.

Illinois, historically plagued by corruption, has seen more than one conviction per week on average from 1983 to 2023, coinciding with Madigan’s leadership. 

Over that period, the state saw 2,168 corruption convictions, with Madigan playing a central role in the state’s political landscape until his departure in 2021. 

The year 2023 saw a record 59 federal corruption convictions, with the majority of them stemming from the Northern District, which includes Chicago.

According to Illinois Policy, Madigan’s control over the state’s budget and pension system contributed to the state’s economic decline. 

Under Madigan's tenure, Illinois accumulated massive debt, and his fiscal policies have been blamed for the nation's worst pension crisis, which continues to strain the state’s finances. 

Despite Madigan’s exit from office in 2021 amid federal corruption charges, his influence still lingers, with Illinois facing rising taxes and an exodus of residents driven by the state’s dire fiscal situation.

As Illinois grapples with its past, experts have called for reforms to address the state’s ongoing corruption issues. 

Proposals include limiting lawmakers' ability to lobby while in office, enhancing financial transparency, and granting the legislative inspector general more power to investigate wrongdoing.