East Central Reporter

Brad Halbrook, state representative for Illinois House District 107, commented on the recent sentencing of former House Speaker Michael Madigan. "Madigan is 'going where he belongs' after being convicted by a jury and sentenced to prison," Halbrook said.

"Justice was served today, as Former Speaker Mike Madigan, now a convicted felon, is finally going to prison," said Halbrook, State Representative for 107th District (R), according to Facebook. "That is where he belongs. He is a criminal, convicted by a jury of his peers."

Former Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan, aged 83, was sentenced to seven and a half years in federal prison on June 13. According to a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey also imposed a $2.5 million fine on Madigan. He was found guilty of using his official position to corruptly solicit and receive financial rewards for himself and his associates. The conviction followed a four-month jury trial where he was found guilty of conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States, using interstate facilities to promote unlawful activity, wire fraud, and bribery.

Screenshot of State Representative Brad Halbrook's June 13 Facebook post | State Representative Brad Halbrook's Facebook page

NBC 5 Chicago reports that Madigan is expected to report to prison on October 12. In addition to his 90-month sentence and the immediate $2.5 million fine, he must serve three years of supervised release. Federal prosecutors had requested a 12.5-year prison term, while the defense argued for probation, suggesting that the government’s recommended sentence would result in Madigan dying behind bars. "You took the law in your own hands and it is an aggravating factor in regards to the sentence," Judge Blakey said during sentencing, noting that acceptance of responsibility did not apply in this case. He also mentioned that sentencing guidelines could potentially allow for more than 100 years in prison.

According to Halbrook's statement on his website following Madigan’s sentencing: "Although Madigan has now been sentenced, the culture of corruption in Illinois hangs over our state like a dark cloud." He further said that "the people of Illinois deserve a government they can trust" but claimed that Democrats have consistently blocked Republican efforts aimed at reforming state government ethics laws.

Halbrook has served as a state representative since 2023 and previously represented Illinois' 102nd District from 2017-2022 and the 110th District from 2012-2015.