Michael Madigan

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'Another Corrupt Leader in Illinois' Sentenced

Michael Madigan, speaker of Illinois House for almost 40 years, gets 7.5 years on corruption charges

(Newser) - Michael Madigan, the longest-serving legislative leader in US history, has been sentenced to 7.5 years in prison over corruption during his years as speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives. The 83-year-old Democrat was also fined $2.5 million. Madigan was indicted in 2022 and convicted in February on...

Ex-House Speaker Charged in $3M Illinois Bribery Scheme

Michael Madigan indicted on racketeering, bribery counts

(Newser) - Michael Madigan, former speaker of the Illinois House and for decades one of the nation’s most powerful legislators, was charged in a nearly $3 million racketeering and bribery scheme Wednesday, becoming the most prominent politician swept up in a federal investigation of entrenched government corruption in the state. Madigan,...

Blago Book: Senate Deal 'Routine' Politics

Former Illinois gov admits only 'routine' backroom dealing

(Newser) - Rod Blagojevich’s memoir makes the case for his innocence with a lot of help from Shakespeare, the Chicago Tribune reports. While blaming his woes specifically on five enemies, he likens his plight to that of Othello and Lear. “You might as well throw in a little Richard the...

Blago Toyed With Giving Rival's Daughter Senate Seat...

...in exchange for dad's pet-project support

(Newser) - Ousted Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich considered nominating his rival's daughter to the US Senate in exchange for concessions on pet projects, the AP reports. Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, daughter of the state's powerful House Speaker Michael Madigan, was in contention for the spot, according to aides to Sen. Dick...

Obama Must Share Blame for Burris
 Obama Must 
 Share Blame 
 for Burris 
OPINION
Feb 18, 2009 12:58 PM CST

Obama Must Share Blame for Burris

(Newser) - Roland Burris is in the Senate embarrassing Illinois, and Rod Blagojevich isn’t the only one on the hook for that, writes John Kass of the Chicago Tribune. A fair share of the blame belongs to Barack Obama, who pressured Senate leaders to seat Burris—a move from which he's...

Illinois House Revives Chance of Special Election

Bill returns to committee hearing scheduled for next week

(Newser) - Add this to the confusion over a certain Senate seat in Illinois: Democrats may try to hold a special election to fill it after all. One day after Rod Blagojevich surprised all by naming his own appointment, the Illinois House speaker quietly revived the possibility of holding an election by...

Blago's Impeachment Begins
 Blago's Impeachment Begins 
Dec 16, 2008 8:17 AM CST

Blago's Impeachment Begins

Governor no stranger to this, lawyer says

(Newser) - The Illinois House voted 113-0 yesterday to authorize a committee to look into Rod Blagojevich’s misdeeds, the first step towards impeaching the disgraced governor, the Chicago Tribune reports, in an unprecedented Democratic-led attempt to oust Illinois’ first Democratic governor in a quarter-century. But Democrats brushed off calls to strip...

Ill. House Speaker Launches Blago Impeachment

Madigan asks feds to help make case against governor

(Newser) - The speaker of the Illinois House is starting impeachment proceedings against Rod Blagojevich, the Chicago Tribune reports. “We plan to proceed without delay,” said Mike Madigan, a longtime foe of the disgraced governor. Madigan has been considering proceedings against Blagojevich since before his recent corruption arrest, and says...

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