Ex-House Speaker Michael Madigan sentenced to 7 1/2 years in prison after judge excoriates him for lying on witness stand
Pausing to sip from a bottle of water and clear his throat, Madigan, 83, wiped his face with a handkerchief before he began to talk in a thin voice, reading initially from what appeared to be a page of notes in front of him.
'I am truly sorry for putting the people of the state of Illinois through this,' Madigan told U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey near the end of his three-and-a-half-hour sentencing hearing on corruption charges. 'I tried to do my best to serve the people of the state of Illinois. I am not perfect.'
Gesturing with his right hand as he spoke, Madigan stopped far short of admitting guilt. But he did ask for leniency, saying he needed to spend his 'remaining days' at home taking care of his ailing wife, Shirley.
'When I look back on my life, being speaker is not what gives me the most pride,' Madigan said as two of his daughters and several other relatives looked on from the front row of the courtroom gallery. 'I am most proud of being a good husband, a good father and now a good grandfather.'
Moments later, however, Blakey erased any hope of probation for Madigan, sentencing the onetime state Democratic leader to seven and a half years in federal prison for his conviction on corruption charges alleging he used his pubic office to amass power, boost business for his private law firm and enrich a small circle of his most loyal associates.
In handing down the 90-month prison term, Blakey said Madigan's crimes represented 'abuse of power at the highest level' and were aggravated by the fact that Madigan had every advantage in life, including a privileged education and a thriving law practice. The judge also found that Madigan lied repeatedly and willfully when testifying in his own defense during the trial. Blakey called it 'a nauseating display of perjury and evasion' that was 'hard to watch.'
'You lied, sir,' Blakey said directly to Madigan. 'You lied. You did not have to. You had a right to sit there and exercise your right to silence, but you took the stand and you took the law into your own hands, and it is an aggravating factor.'
Under federal rules, Madigan must serve at least 85% of the sentence, which, with good behavior amounts to about six years and three months behind bars. The judge also levied a maximum $2.5 million fine, saying he would've made it higher if the law allowed.
Madigan was told to report to prison Oct. 13, though his lawyers said they plan to file for a bond to keep him out of jail while any appeal is pending.
Dressed in a gray suit and red tie, Madigan showed no outward reaction to the sentence. As the courtroom cleared of spectators, he chatted with his legal team and kissed and hugged several relatives before ducking into a nearby conference room. Asked by a reporter as he was heading to the elevators if he had any comment, Madigan replied, 'No.'
Minutes later, Madigan walked out of the courthouse with his attorneys, walking in a light mist as he was trailed by dozens of cameras. With traffic at a near standstill, he crossed Dearborn Street against the light and ducked into his lawyer's office across the street. His lawyers also said they had no comment.
The sentence was one of the longest in a public corruption case in recent Chicago history, and nearly four times the 2-year term handed to former Ald. Edward Burke in 2023. It's also higher than the 6 1/2-year sentence for ex-Gov. George Ryan, and about half of the 14 years Ryan's successor, Rod Blagojevich, was ordered to serve.
After the hearing, U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros released a statement praising his investigative team, led by ex-Assistant U.S. Attorney Amarjeet Bhachu, who left the office in March. 'Corruption at the highest level of the state legislature tears at the fabric of a vital governing body,' the statement read.
In the same news release, Chicago FBI Special Agent in Charge Doug DePodesta wrote: 'Mr. Madigan was elected to serve the people of Illinois, but his actions demonstrated time and time again that his priority was his own personal interests and gain.'
The historic sentencing punctuated a long-running corruption case that shook the state's political world to the core and cemented an extraordinary personal fall for Madigan, the longest-serving state legislative leader in the nation's history, who for decades held an iron-tight grip on the House as well as the state Democratic Party.
It was a case many thought would never be made. Madigan, a savvy lawyer and old-school practitioner of Democratic machine politics, famously eschewed cellphones and email and stayed largely above the fray while dozens of his colleagues were hauled off to prison over the years.
Ultimately, it took the extraordinary cooperation of then-Ald. Daniel Solis, including wearing a hidden wire in meetings with Madigan, along with an FBI wiretap on Madigan's longtime confidant, Michael McClain, to break the case open, leading to a series of indictments and pay-to-play allegations against two major utilities, Commonwealth Edison and AT&T Illinois, and more than a dozen other individuals.
After a trial that stretched nearly four months, Madigan was convicted by a jury Feb. 12 on bribery conspiracy and other corruption charges. The jury found him guilty on 10 of 23 counts, including a multipronged scheme to accept and solicit payments from ComEd to Madigan associates for do-nothing subcontracts.
Madigan also was convicted on six out of seven counts — including wire fraud and Travel Act violations — regarding a plan to get Solis, who testified at length in the trial, appointed to a state board.
In asking for a stiff 12 1/2-year sentence for Madigan, Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Streicker argued Friday that Madigan held himself out as always working for the people, but in the end he 'fit right into the mold of yet another corrupt leader in Illinois.'
In her argument, Streicker brought up comments from U.S. District Judge James Zagel more than a decade ago when he told former Gov. Rod Blagojevich that corruption at such high levels in government had torn the fabric of the state.
'Arguably the damage to the fabric of Illinois is even worse in this case,' Streicker said. 'Governors, they came and went over the years, but Madigan stayed. His power and his influence remained constant.'
Madigan attorney Dan Collins, however, argued the reality was Madigan spent his life 'looking out for the little guy.'
Collins pointed to the more than 200 letters written on behalf of Madigan from people of all walks of life, many of whom told stories about Madigan helping them out without expecting anything in return.
'Mike wasn't doing it to amass power,' Collins said, at one point growing emotional as he described Madigan as his friend. 'He was doing it because those were the Catholic values he was raised with, and that is how he lived his life in service of his neighbors, in service of his community, in service of this state.'
In his remarks, Blakey said he was confronted with 'a tale of two Madigans,' a man of integrity in many aspects of his life who lost his way.
'This case is really sad, because the defendant is a dedicated public servant, apart from the crimes committed in this case,' Blakey said. 'He's also a good and decent person. He had no reason to commit these crimes, but he chose to do so.'
Earlier in the hearing, Blakey ruled that Madigan had indeed lied repeatedly and willfully on the witness stand when he testified in his own defense in January.
Among the lies, the judge said, was downplaying the closeness of his relationship with McClain, which was detailed in dozens of wiretapped phone calls where the two men talked about everything from high-stakes political maneuvers to where they were going to supper on a given night.
'The evidence showed that McClain was one of Madigan's most trusted operatives, not just one lobbyist of many as Madigan falsely testified on the witness stand,' Blakey said.
Madigan's legal team, meanwhile, pushed back hard on the notion that Madigan perjured himself. Madigan attorney Lari Dierks argued there was nothing in the record showing anything he said was intentionally untruthful, which prosecutors have the burden to show.
'Here, Mike took the stand, he subjected himself to vigorous cross-examination and the government has put forth no evidence that he willfully lied,' Dierks said.
jmeisner@chicagotribune.com rlong@chicagotribune.com
Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan leaves Dirksen U.S. Courthouse after being sentenced to 7 1/2 years in prison and fined $2.5 million during his post-trial sentencing hearing, June 13, 2025, in Chicago. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune) Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan arrives at Dirksen U.S. Courthouse for his post-trial sentencing hearing on June 13, 2025, in downtown Chicago. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune) Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan arrives at Dirksen U.S. Courthouse for his post-trial sentencing hearing on June 13, 2025, in downtown Chicago. (Audrey Richardson/Chicago Tribune) Former Speaker Michael Madigan, left, arrives at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse with attorneys Thomas Breen, center, and Robert Stanley for a hearing on sentencing guidelines on June 10, 2025. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune) Former Illinois Speaker of the House Michael Madigan, flanked by daughters Nicole, left, and Tiffany, leaves the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse after jurors found him guilty on 10 counts in his racketeering case on Feb. 12, 2025. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune) Former lobbyist Michael McClain walks toward reporters after the jury was deadlocked on charges at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse, Feb. 12, 2025. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune) Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan leaves the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse while holding hands with his daughter Nicole after jurors found him guilty on 10 counts in his racketeering case on Feb. 12, 2025. His daughter Tiffany is at right. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune) Acting U.S. Attorney Morris Pasqual walks toward reporters following former Illinois House speaker Michael Madigan's guilty verdict, at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse on Feb. 12, 2025. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune) Michael McClain, left, and his attorney Patrick Cotter speak with media after the conclusion of his trial at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse on Feb. 12, 2025. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune) Former Illinois Speaker of the House Michael Madigan leaves the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse after jurors found him guilty on 10 counts in his racketeering case on Feb. 12, 2025. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune) Lobbyist Michael McClain leaves Dirksen U.S. Courthouse after Michael Madigan was convicted of bribery conspiracy in a landmark trial in Chicago on Feb. 12, 2025. (Audrey Richardson/Chicago Tribune) Former Illinois Speaker of the House Michael Madigan leaves the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse with daughter Nicole after jurors found him guilty on 10 counts in his racketeering case, Feb. 12, 2025. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune) Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan arrives home after being convicted on several counts in his federal corruption trial on Feb. 12, 2025. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune) Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan exits after the jury delivered a partial verdict in his and former lobbyist Michael McClain's corruption trial at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse on Feb. 12, 2025. (Audrey Richardson/Chicago Tribune) Former lobbyist Michael McClain exits after the jury delivered a partial verdict in his and former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan's corruption trial at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse, Feb. 12, 2025, in Chicago. The panel also deadlocked on all six counts against Madigan co-defendant Michael McClain. (Audrey Richardson/Chicago Tribune) Dan Collins, attorney for Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan exits after the jury delivered a partial verdict in Madigan's and former lobbyist Michael McClain's corruption trial at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse, Feb. 12, 2025, in Chicago. (Audrey Richardson/Chicago Tribune) Robert Stanley, attorney for Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan exits after the jury delivered a partial verdict in Madigan's and former lobbyist Michael McClain's corruption trial at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse, Feb. 12, 2025, in Chicago. (Audrey Richardson/Chicago Tribune) Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan exits the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse after the jury delivered a partial verdict in his and former lobbyist Michael McClain's corruption trial, Feb. 12, 2025, in Chicago. (Audrey Richardson/Chicago Tribune) Thomas Breen, attorney for former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan exits after the jury delivered a partial verdict in Madigan's and former lobbyist Michael McClain's corruption trial at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse, Feb. 12, 2025. (Audrey Richardson/Chicago Tribune) Former House Speaker Michael Madigan leaves the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in Chicago, Jan. 29, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune) Michael McClain leaves the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in Chicago at the end of the day as the ongoing corruption trial continues on Jan. 29, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune) Former House Speaker Michael Madigan, center, leaves the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse at the end of the day as his ongoing corruption trial continues on Jan. 22, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune) Former lobbyist Michael McClain places a hand on attorney Patrick Cotter's shoulder as they exit after McClain's and former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan's corruption trial at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse on Jan. 28, 2025. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) Former Speaker Michael Madigan walks toward the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse on Jan. 23, 2025. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune) Former House Speaker Michael Madigan leaves the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in Chicago at the end of the day — after wrapping up 11 hours of testimony on the witness stand that stretched over four days — as his corruption trial continues on Jan. 14, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune) Former lobbyist Michael McClain exits after his and former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan's corruption trial at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse, Jan. 8, 2025. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, center, crosses Dearborn Street with attorneys Lari Dierks and Todd Pugh near the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse, Jan. 8, 2025. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune) Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, foreground, exits after a day in his and former lobbyist Michael McClain's corruption trial at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse, Jan. 8, 2025. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) Former Ald. Daniel Solis leaves Dirksen U.S. Courthouse after a day of testimony in the corruption trial of former Speaker Michael Madigan on Dec. 3, 2024. (Tess Crowley/Chicago Tribune) Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan leaves the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in Chicago during his corruption trial on Jan. 7, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune) Former AT&T insider Stephen Selcke leaves the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse on Dec. 18, 2024, after testifying in the corruption trial of Michael Madigan. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune) Michael McClain leaves the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in Chicago on Dec. 18, 2024. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune) Former state Rep. Edward Acevedo in a vehicle leaving the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse after testifying in Chicago on Dec. 17, 2024. (Tess Crowley/Chicago Tribune) Former state Rep. Eddie Acevedo arrives at Dirksen U.S. Courthouse on Dec. 16, 2024. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune) Lobbyist Nancy Kimme exits after testifying in the corruption trial of former House Speaker Michael Madigan and former lobbyist Michael McClain at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse on Dec. 5, 2024. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) Jessica Basham, Michael Madigan's former chief of staff, leaves the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse after a day of testimony in Chicago on Dec. 4, 2024. (Tess Crowley/Chicago Tribune) Former Ald. Daniel Solis arrives at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse on Nov. 25, 2024, to take the stand in the Michael Madigan corruption trial. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune) Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan leaves the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in Chicago on Nov. 27, 2024, after another day in his corruption trial. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune) Former Chicago Ald. Daniel Solis leaves the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse after testifying in the trial of Michael Madigan on Nov. 21, 2024. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) Former lobbyist Michael McClain arrives at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse on Nov. 19, 2024. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune) Former ComEd board member Juan Ochoa arrives at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse on Nov. 19, 2024. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune) Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, who is facing corruption charges, arrives at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse on Nov. 12, 2024. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune) Former ComEd Vice President Fidel Marquez, a key witness in the racketeering case against Michael Madigan, arrives at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse on Nov. 12, 2024. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune) Lobbyist and longtime Michael Madigan aide Will Cousineau, right, leaves the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse after testifying on Oct. 31, 2024. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune) Former House Speaker Michael Madigan leaves the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in Chicago during his ongoing corruption trial on Oct. 24, 2024. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune) Michael McClain leaves the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse on Oct. 23, 2024, in Chicago. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune) Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan arrives at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse for the start of his trial on Oct. 21, 2024. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune) Michael McClain leaves the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in Chicago as his and former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan's ongoing corruption trial ends for the day on Oct. 24, 2024. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune) Former House Speaker Michael Madigan leaves the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse on Oct. 17, 2024, after a jury was finally selected in his racketeering trial. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune) Former state Rep. Lou Lang leaves Dirksen U.S. Courthouse after being dismissed for the day on Oct. 23, 2024. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune) Former Speaker of the House Michael Madigan leaves the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse after another day of jury selection in his corruption trial on Oct. 10, 2024. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune) Former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan walks across Dearborn Street toward the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse on Oct. 2, 2024, for the final in-person hearing before his Oct. 8 trial begins. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune) Former Speaker of the Illinois House Michael Madigan is seen during a break in his hearing held at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse on Sept. 16, 2024. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune) Michael McClain, left, leaves the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse on May 2, 2023, after being found guilty in the ComEd Four bribery trial. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) Jose M. Osorio / Chicago TribuneFormer Illinois Speaker of the House Michael Madigan arrives at his office in Chicago on Oct. 18, 2021. Defendant Michael McClain, center, exits the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in downtown Chicago for the day during the ongoing 'ComEd Four' bribery conspiracy trial on March 28, 2023. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune) Brian Cassella / Chicago TribuneFormer Illinois Speaker Michael Madigan departs from his lawyers' office on March 9, 2022, after making his first virtual court appearance for his indictment. Antonio Perez/Chicago TribuneFormer Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan walks on his second-floor patio at his Chicago home on March 3, 2022. Antonio Perez / Chicago TribuneMichael Madigan arrives at his West Lawn home on March 2, 2022, before it was announced he was indicted on federal racketeering charges. Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago TribuneSpeaker Michael Madigan arrives for the Illinois House Democratic Caucus during a spring session of the General Assembly at the Illinois Capitol in Springfield in 2019. Terrence Antonio James / Chicago TribuneAfter a meeting with then-Gov. Bruce Rauner (not shown), Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan prepares to address the media at the State of Illinois Building in Chicago on Dec. 6, 2016. Chuck Berman, Chicago TribuneHouse Speaker Michael Madigan answers questions at a press availability Jan. 24, 2012, after he addressed the fifth annual Elmhurst College Governmental Forum. Lobbyist Mike McClain, center, appears outside Speaker Michael Madigan's office at the State Capitol in Springfield on May 25, 2012. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune) Zbigniew Bzdak, Chicago TribuneHouse Speaker Michael Madigan listens Dec. 3, 2013, after introducing a bill to overhaul the state government worker pension system. Acting U.S. Attorney Morris Pasqual talks with media following Madigan's guilty verdict, at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse on Feb. 12, 2025. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune) Show Caption1 of 66Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan leaves Dirksen U.S. Courthouse after being sentenced to 7 1/2 years in prison and fined $2.5 million during his post-trial sentencing hearing, June 13, 2025, in Chicago. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)Expand
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