Overview
- U.S. Reps. Darin LaHood, Mary Miller and Mike Bost asked President Trump in a letter to deny Michael Madigan’s request, warning a pardon would signal impunity for public corruption.
- Madigan has a clemency petition on file with the Office of the Pardon Attorney, listed as a “pardon after completion of sentence,” and the application remains pending.
- The 83-year-old former Illinois House speaker is serving a 7.5-year federal sentence in a West Virginia facility after a February conviction on public-corruption counts.
- Prosecutors proved schemes involving ComEd payments to Madigan allies and favors tied to business steered to his law firm, which a jury found undermined public trust.
- The White House declined comment on the request, and Trump’s earlier clemency for ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich underscores the political sensitivity as Madigan pursues both clemency and an appeal.