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Longest-serving legislative leader in US history given 7 1/2 years in federal corruption case (apnews.com)

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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The stunning downward spiral of Michael Madigan’s political career ended Friday with a 7 1/2-year prison sentence and a $2.5 million fine for the former Illinois House speaker and the longest-serving legislative leader in U.S. history after he was convicted of trading legislation for the enrichment of his friends and allies.

U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey sentenced the 83-year-old in U.S. District Court in Chicago.

Nicknamed the “Velvet Hammer” for his quiet but hard-nosed style, Madigan was convicted in February on 10 of 23 counts in a remarkable corruption trial that lasted four months. The case churned through 60 witnesses and mountains of documents, photographs and taped conversations.

Federal prosecutors sought a 12 1/2-year prison term. Madigan’s attorneys wanted five years’ probation, saying he is a good man who tried to do right by taxpayers and needs to be home to care for his ailing wife, Shirley, who submitted a videotaped statement to the court requesting her husband be able to come home.

But Blakey noted that federal sentencing guidelines allowed for a term of 105 years based on findings in evidence — notably that Madigan committed perjury when he took the stand in his own defense. Blakey was particularly piqued over what he called “a nauseating display of perjury and evasion.”

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[-] [email protected] 0 points 1 day ago

Then that's where we are. A bunch of do-wells talking about how to do well. That lack of action will let fascism take proper hold. I suppose we'll see what happens. I certainly hope a leader steps up.

[-] [email protected] 2 points 1 day ago

This mentality that 'we' can support major atrocities, corruption, and outright garbage behavior while pretending to be 'the good guys' is what let fascism take hold. When you're willing to sacrifice all your ideals and principles just to win a contest, it should be a sign that you're off track but some people want to double down on this thinking it's somehow going to make things better.

It's so funny that at any point in recent history, it's always liberals telling progressives that they're causing division and that it's always us who need to come over to "your side." Meanwhile your ideals keep costing us elections.

this post was submitted on 14 Jun 2025

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