Big news hereabouts. Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan who very nearly ran the state single-handed over a period of forty years, has been indicted on charges of corruption. ABC 7 Chicago reports:
CHICAGO (WLS) — Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan will be indicted on corruption charges Wednesday, the ABC7 I-Team has learned.
U.S. Attorney John Lausch is slated to hold a news conference at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday afternoon. They have not released any specific details about the appearance, other than to say they will be announcing an indictment in a public corruption investigation.
The full indictment, obtained by the I-Team, contains a complex list of 22 counts, including for bribery and racketeering, allegedly executed by Madigan and a web of co-conspirators.
This indictment is follow-up on the bribery charges filed against ComEd three years ago. The wheels of the gods, etc.
Jason Meisner and Ray Long report at the Chicago Tribune:
The indictment also accused Madigan of illegally soliciting business for his private property tax law firm during discussions to turn a state-owned parcel of land in Chinatown into a commercial development.
Though the land deal never was consummated, it’s been a source of continued interest for federal investigators, who in 2020 subpoenaed Madigan’s office for records and communications he’d had with key players.
Former Chicago Ald. Daniel Solis recorded numerous conversations with Madigan as part of the Chinatown land probe, including one where the speaker told Solis he was looking for a colleague to sponsor a House bill approving the land sale.
“I have to find out about who would be the proponent in the House,†Madigan allegedly told Solis in the March 2018 conversation. “We gotta find the appropriate person for that. I have to think it through.â€
In addition to the criminal charges, the indictment also contains a forfeiture allegation against Madigan seeking $2.8 million in alleged ill-gotten gains.
We should be trying to clawback a heckuva lot more than that.
John Seidel reports at the Sun-Times:
Madigan is now one of the most significant politicians in Illinois history ever to face criminal charges, despite having left office more than a year ago. The news is the culmination of one of the most significant, expansive public corruption investigations Illinois has seen in years, already leaving an indelible mark on state politics by knocking Madigan out of power in January 2021.
The powerful Southwest Side Democrat had held his seat in the state House of Representatives since 1971 and served as speaker for all but two years between 1983 and 2020.
This is incredibly anti-climactic. I can’t imagine there’s anybody who’s surprised at this. The only surprise is that he was actually charged.
It’s too bad this couldn’t have happened twenty years ago. Illinois might not be in the fiscal mess it’s in.
Good. Fuck that shakedown artist.