SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The stunning downward spiral of Michael Madigan’s political career ended Friday with a 7 1/2-year prison sentence and a $2.5 million fine for the former Illinois House speaker and the longest-serving legislative leader in U.S. history after he was convicted of trading legislation for the enrichment of his friends and allies.
U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey sentenced the 83-year-old in U.S. District Court in Chicago.
Nicknamed the “Velvet Hammer” for his quiet but hard-nosed style, Madigan was convicted in February on 10 of 23 counts in a remarkable corruption trial that lasted four months. The case churned through 60 witnesses and mountains of documents, photographs and taped conversations.
Federal prosecutors sought a 12 1/2-year prison term. Madigan’s attorneys wanted five years’ probation, saying he is a good man who tried to do right by taxpayers and needs to be home to care for his ailing wife, Shirley, who submitted a videotaped statement to the court requesting her husband be able to come home.
But Blakey noted that federal sentencing guidelines allowed for a term of 105 years based on findings in evidence — notably that Madigan committed perjury when he took the stand in his own defense. Blakey was particularly piqued over what he called “a nauseating display of perjury and evasion.”
20 years as chairperson of the Illinois Democratic Party, he set much of the state’s political agenda while handpicking candidates for political office. More often than not, he also controlled political mapmaking, drawing lines to favor his party.
Rules for thee, not for me. Republicans have been doing this as a whole and they get a free pass.
Republicans have been doing this as a whole and they get a free pass.
I’m still not willing to let it slide, just because its my side. Let the conviction stand.
I’m not suggesting that at all. I’m simply pointing out that it’s justice, imbalanced.
I don’t disagree with you on that point.
I am specifically because Republicans have gained their ground through doing things like this. We are in our situation currently due to the gerrymandering, lies, bribes, and bullshit. Let’s happily fight fire with fire and once we win it all make it so it could never easily happen again
Here is the flaw in your logic: If you encourage corrupt people to run for office you can’t guarantee that the people who run will actually care about their constituent’s concerns. Allowing corruption just leads to more corruption and everyone gets hurt in the process.
Let’s happily fight fire with fire and once we win it all make it so it could never easily happen again
Your strategy is “to defeat the horrible enemy, we must become equally horrible as the enemy”?
Political corruption should be a capital crime.
Political corruption is one of the best reasons to eliminate the death penalty entirely.
American society has become sociopathic, and you are definitely not helping.
Meanwhile guys get this much and more for small time possession
One less centrist who can no longer abuse his position. The party becomes better one conviction at a time.
Bro looks like dirty Harry.
