Republicans oppose Madigan pardon request
Republican members of Illinois’ congressional delegation have expressed concerns about former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s request for a pardon from President Donald Trump.
In a letter to the president, U.S. Reps. Mike Bost, Darin LaHood and Mary Miller said granting clemency in Madigan’s case would reward a lifetime of unethical behavior and embolden other public officials to exploit their offices for personal gain.
Madigan is serving a 7.5-year prison sentence in West Virginia after a federal jury convicted him on ten counts of public corruption earlier this year.
Inmate sentenced for contraband
A district judge has added 24 additional months to an Illinois prison inmate’s sentence for possessing a makeshift weapon.
Raekwon M. Patton, 27, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of contraband in prison after a correctional officer at FCI-Greenville found him with a sharp metal object.
Patton was serving a 300-month sentence at the time.
The sentence comes as the Joint Commission on Administrative Rules is expected to consider the Illinois Department of Corrections’ request for a permanent rule on electronic scanning of inmates’ mail.
Religious groups join challenge
A nonprofit law firm has filed an amicus brief urging a federal appeals court to stop Illinois from forcing pro-life healthcare professionals to promote and make referrals for abortion.
Becket filed the brief Tuesday on behalf of the Catholic bishops of Illinois and other Catholic and Orthodox groups.
In National Institute of Family and Life Advocates v. Treto, a group of pro-life doctors and pregnancy centers and doctors challenged an Illinois law requiring healthcare professionals who decline to perform abortions for conscience reasons to tell women about the “benefits” of abortion and refer women to abortion providers.
