West Central Reporter

Assistant Republican Leader C.D. Davidsmeyer has responded to the guilty verdict handed down to former Speaker of the House Michael J. Madigan, who faced ten counts of bribery conspiracy, bribery, and wire fraud in a federal corruption trial.

In his statement, Davidsmeyer said, "This trial laid bare the corruption and insider dealmaking that were the hallmarks of Speaker Madigan’s reign." He criticized Madigan's extensive control over Illinois' legislative and political processes, claiming that Madigan "abused his power to reward party loyalists and political hacks with ghost jobs" for personal and political gain.

Davidsmeyer concluded by labeling Madigan as "the Godfather of the Democrats’ Culture of Corruption," a characterization he believes was substantiated by the lengthy trial.