(The Center Square) – Federal agents say the guilty verdicts delivered Wednesday against former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan are a victory for justice and accountability.
Federal prosecutors alleged Madigan, D-Chicago, led a criminal enterprise to use his public office as speaker to curry favor with major utilities and developers for the personal gain of himself and his associates.
After a more than four-month-long trial, and two weeks of jury deliberations, Madigan was found guilty on 10 counts involving conspiracy and bribery with ComEd and counts of wire fraud around a state board appointment. No sentencing date has been scheduled.
After the verdict, Doug DePodesta, special agent in charge of the FBI in Chicago, told reporters in Chicago the verdict reaffirms that public corruption has no place in Illinois, or a true democracy.
“Public corruption undermines the strength of our government and erodes the public’s faith in our institutions,” he said. “That strength of government and the public’s faith are a cornerstone in this country and should be pillars for which we stand.”
IRS acting special agent in charge Ramsey Covington said corruption undermines public institutions and is a direct attack on democracy.
“The people of Illinois deserve leaders who serve with integrity,” Covington said. “Public office is a responsibility, not a criminal enterprise.”
Covington said they will continue to follow the money and hold people accountable.
“This case is a victory for justice, accountability and the people of Illinois,” he said.
Of the 23 counts, guilty verdicts were delivered for 10, not guilty verdicts for seven. The jury was deadlocked on six counts against Madigan and codefendant Michael McClain, including racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud and bribery separately involving a Chinatown parcel and AT&T.
Morris Pasqual, acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, said prosecutors hadn’t made a decision yet about retrying the deadlocked counts.
Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, who replaced Madigan as speaker, said in a statement that the criminal justice system did its job.
“I have always believed that a court of law was the place for this to all be sorted out. Today’s outcome leaves me with great appreciation and respect for our legal system. Investigators, prosecutors, and a jury of Illinoisans did their job,” Welch said.
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 was the longest serving statehouse speaker, having served all but two years between 1983 and 2021. He 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.
