Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s 7.5-year federal prison sentence starts Oct. 13 for his role in a bribery scheme involving Commonwealth Edison, Illinois’ largest utility.
Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan must report to federal prison by 2 p.m., Oct. 13, to begin his 7.5 sentence.
When it comes to public corruption, he’s Illinois’ convict of the week.
Madigan, 83, ruled the Illinois House for 36 years, longer than any legislative leader in U.S. history. Known as “The Velvet Hammer,” he used his power to build a political machine that controlled Springfield and converted that power into personal and political gain.
A federal jury found Madigan guilty on 10 counts of bribery, conspiracy and wire fraud, concluding he used his office to reward allies with no-show jobs and contracts in exchange for favorable legislation. U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey called it “abuse of power at the highest level.”
But while Madigan’s personal reign is ending, the system he built lives on.
Illinois averages one public corruption conviction a week, ranking as the most corrupt big state in the nation. Between 1983, the year Madigan took over as speaker, and 2023, 2,310 public officials were convicted in federal court. Today, 57 state lawmakers owe their seats to Madigan’s campaign cash.
The structures he created with gerrymandered districts, House rules concentrating power in the speaker and a network of campaign funding remain in place, enabling the next generation of political insiders.
To break free from the Madigan legacy, Illinois lawmakers must act to:
- End the revolving door between lawmakers and lobbyists.
- Strengthen financial disclosures and require recusals for conflicts of interest.
- Empower the legislative inspector general with independent authority.
- Enact fair maps through an independent redistricting commission.
- Reform House rules to restore legislative balance.
Madigan’s prison sentence marks the end of one man’s corruption but not the system he built that allowed him to do it. True reform means dismantling the system that made Madigan possible.
