‘You lied, sir’: Madigan sentenced to more than seven years in federal prison for corruption

June 13, 2025 | By Jim Talamonti and Dan McCaleb, The Center Square

Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, arrives at the federal court building in Chicago for his sentencing hearing on June 9, 2025. | Jim Talamonti | The Center Square

Longtime former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan was sentenced to 90 months in prison on Friday for his February conviction on 10 corruption-related counts.

U.S. District Judge John Robert “Jack” Blakey delivered the sentence late Friday afternoon, which includes a $2.5 million fine and three years of supervised release after he serves his prison term.

When Madigan, a Democrat from Chicago, has to report to federal prison has yet to be determined.

“I’m truly sorry for putting the people of the state of Illinois through this,” Madigan said before sentencing, asking the judge to allow him to remain free to spend the rest of his years with his wife and family.

“You lied, sir,” Blakey said later.

Madigan shocked many observers when he agreed to take the stand during his trial.

Madigan left the federal courthouse without speaking.

Prosecutors recommended that Madigan, D-Chicago, be sentenced to 12.5 years in prison and pay a maximum fine of $2.5 million. Defense attorneys said Madigan should be sentenced to one year of home confinement, plus probation and community service.

Madigan, 83, was convicted Feb. 12 on 10 counts of bribery, conspiracy, wire fraud and use of a facility to promote unlawful activity.

Madigan was charged in March 2022 with 23 counts of bribery, racketeering and official misconduct in connection with a scheme that federal prosecutors referred to as “Madigan Enterprise.”

The jury rendered “not guilty” verdicts on seven counts against Madigan and deadlocked on the others.

Prosecutors alleged that ComEd and AT&T Illinois gave out no-work or little-work jobs and contract work to those loyal to Madigan to get legislation passed that would benefit them in Springfield. Four ComEd executives and lobbyists, including McClain, were convicted in 2023 in a related trial, and ComEd itself agreed to pay $200 million in fines as part of a deferred prosecution agreement with prosecutors.

Prosecutors also alleged that Madigan used his political power in Springfield to steer business to his private Chicago law firm.

Madigan served in the Illinois House from 1971 to 2021. He was speaker for all but two years between 1983 and 2021. Madigan also chaired the Democratic Party of Illinois from 1998 to 2021.