(The Center Square) – Longtime former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan was convicted Wednesday on 10 corruption-related charges, but found not guilty of an overarching racketeering conspiracy.
The jury deadlocked on all six counts that Madigan’s codefendant, Michael McClain, was charged with.
Madigan was charged with 23 counts of bribery, racketeering and official misconduct in connection with a scheme that federal prosecutors referred to as “Madigan Enterprise.” Codefendant Michael McClain was charged in six of those counts.
The jury rendered “not guilty” verdicts on seven counts against Madigan and deadlocked on the others.
The Illinois House Republican Organization said more work needs to be done.
“Today, the jury confirmed what the public has suspected for years – that Mike Madigan built a political machine to favor his friends and enrich himself at the expense of Illinois families. For decades, he used his office to consolidate power, reward allies, and protect a corrupt system that put special interests ahead of taxpayers,” the organization said. “This conviction is a step toward justice, but it is not enough. The culture of corruption in Springfield did not start or end with Mike Madigan. Many members of the General Assembly benefited from his political operation, accepted his money, and enabled his reign. They must be held accountable.”
Prosecutors alleged that ComEd and AT&T Illinois gave out no-work or little-work jobs and contract work to those loyal to Madigan to get legislation passed that would benefit them in Springfield. Four ComEd executives and lobbyists were convicted in 2023 in a related trial, and ComEd itself agreed to pay $200 million in fines as part of a deferred prosecution agreement with prosecutors.
Madigan served in the Illinois House from 1971 to 2021. He was speaker for all but two years between 1983 and 2021. Madigan also chaired the Democratic Party of Illinois from 1998 to 2021.
McClain was a longtime lobbyist who previously served as a state representative in Illinois’ 48th district from 1973 to 1982.
This is a developing story.
