A federal jury in Chicago has convicted Michael J. Madigan, the former Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives, on charges of conspiracy and bribery. Madigan was found guilty on ten counts, including conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States, using interstate facilities to promote unlawful activity, wire fraud, and bribery. The jury acquitted him on some other charges and a mistrial was declared for six counts where the jury could not reach a unanimous decision.
The trial lasted four months in U.S. District Court in Chicago. Sentencing has yet to be scheduled. Wire fraud convictions carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison per count, while each bribery conviction can result in up to ten years. The maximum sentence for conspiracy and promoting unlawful activity is five years.
Judge John Robert Blakey also declared a mistrial for six deadlocked counts against co-defendant Michael F. McClain from Quincy, Illinois.
Evidence presented during the trial indicated that Madigan conspired with others to have Commonwealth Edison make payments to his associates as rewards for their loyalty. These payments were intended to influence legislation favorable to ComEd within the Illinois General Assembly.
Madigan was additionally convicted of accepting legal work unlawfully directed to his private law firm and his son by a Chicago City Council Alderman. This was allegedly in exchange for helping appoint the Alderman to a paid State Board position.
The announcement of the verdicts came from Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the FBI's Chicago Field Office; and Ramsey E. Covington, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation Division in Chicago. The prosecution team included Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amarjeet S. Bhachu, Diane MacArthur, Sarah E. Streicker, and Julia Schwartz.