Michael Madigan Sentenced to 7.5 Years in Prison for Illinois Corruption Scandal

In a dramatic fall from grace, Michael Madigan, the longest-serving legislative leader in U.S. history, was sentenced to 7 1/2 years in federal prison and fined $2.5 million for a sprawling corruption scheme. The 83-year-old former Illinois House speaker, once dubbed the "Velvet Hammer" for his shrewd, understated control, was convicted in February 2025 on 10 counts, including bribery, conspiracy, and wire fraud, after a four-month trial in Chicago’s U.S. District Court.

Judge John Robert Blakey didn’t mince words, slamming Madigan for what he called a "nauseating display of perjury and evasion" during his testimony. The charges stemmed from Madigan’s orchestration of legislative favors for utility giant ComEd, trading jobs and contracts for loyalists, including a retiring Chicago alderman. Prosecutors painted a picture of a political titan who, over a 50-year career, amassed a $40 million fortune while steering Illinois’ political machine with an iron grip.

Madigan, who served nearly four decades as speaker and over 20 years as Illinois Democratic Party chair, begged for leniency to care for his ailing wife, Shirley, who pleaded in a video for her husband’s return. But Blakey, unmoved, noted that Madigan’s lies on the stand and lack of remorse justified the sentence, far below the 105 years allowed but above the probation his defense sought.

While letters poured in praising Madigan’s kindness as a neighbor and family man, prosecutors argued he squandered his chance to model honest governance. Instead, he became another chapter in Illinois’ notorious corruption saga, proving that even the most powerful can’t escape justice.