East Central Reporter

Former Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan has been found guilty on 10 felony counts, including bribery, bribery conspiracy, and wire fraud. The verdict was delivered after a federal trial that highlighted allegations of corruption during his tenure as one of the state's most powerful political figures.

Madigan's political career ended in January 2021 amid a federal investigation into bribery charges. He resigned from his legislative seat shortly after stepping down as Speaker. During his time in office, Madigan was accused of leveraging his position to benefit financially and politically while also enriching his allies.

The former speaker faced accusations involving major companies such as ComEd and AT&T Illinois. It was alleged that he received $120,000 from ComEd through no-work contracts for associates in exchange for supporting favorable legislation. Similarly, AT&T Illinois allegedly funneled $22,500 to influence legislative support from Madigan.

State Representative Chris Miller responded to the verdict by calling for ethics reforms within the General Assembly to address ongoing corruption issues. "This conviction is a wake-up call to all public officials about the responsibilities we carry," said Miller.

Following the conviction, Madigan's annual state pension of $158,000 has been suspended. Timothy Blair from the Illinois General Assembly Retirement System confirmed that Madigan would receive his February pension payment due to processing timelines but future payments are halted per state law.

In other news affecting Illinois, Joann’s craft chain announced closures of 26 stores in the state amid bankruptcy proceedings. Additionally, Midwest Stock Exchange is relocating its trading platform to Dallas under new ownership by Intercontinental Exchange.

State policies on immigration are also under scrutiny as federal challenges arise against sanctuary laws like the Illinois TRUST Act. These legal disputes could impact local enforcement's cooperation with ICE operations.

The series of events underscores significant changes and challenges facing Illinois across politics, economy, and social policies.