West Central Reporter

Former Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan has been sentenced to 7.5 years in federal prison and fined $2.5 million, concluding a public corruption case on Friday, June 13. U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey found that Madigan lied repeatedly and willfully during his testimony.

Madigan, who was convicted in February on 10 felony counts including bribery, bribery conspiracy, and wire fraud, is scheduled to report to the Federal Bureau of Prisons on October 13, pending an appeal.

State Representative C.D. Davidsmeyer (R-Murrayville) has called on the 57 current state legislators who accepted campaign funds from Madigan to donate the money to charity. "As Speaker of the House, Mike Madigan directed a decade-long criminal enterprise that shook down an Illinois utility company for jobs and cash for his friends and allies," said Davidsmeyer. He added that federal prosecutors referred to this scheme as the "Make Mike Madigan Money Plan."

Davidsmeyer emphasized the need for legislators who benefited from Madigan's campaign funds to distance themselves from the corruption by donating their funds to charity: "I am calling for these legislators to donate their Madigan money to charity and rid themselves of the taint of Madigan’s corruption once and for all."