Overview

• U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey imposed a 90-month sentence and a $2.5 million fine on Madigan following his February conviction on 10 counts of bribery, conspiracy, and wire fraud.
• Prosecutors detailed two primary schemes: a $1.3 million ComEd kickback network to reward Madigan allies and a plot to secure a paid state board seat for Chicago Alderman Danny Solis in exchange for legal work.
• Madigan’s defense team had sought probation or home confinement based on his age and health, but the judge opted for a prison term designed to broadly deter public-office corruption.
• Evidence presented during the four-month trial included testimony from over 60 witnesses and hours of recordings showing how Madigan leveraged his decades as Illinois House Speaker to enrich himself and associates.
• Lawmakers and civic groups across party lines have responded to the sentence by calling for comprehensive ethics reforms to strengthen oversight and restore public trust in state government.