Michael Madigan was sentenced to 7.5 years, fines $ 2.5 million after the corruption case

Michael Madigan, a former speaker in Illinois House, was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison on June 13 to have a corrupt call and received personal financial rewards for himself and his co -workers.

The 83-year-old politician-who served in the Illinois representative house from 1971 to 2021 and was sentenced in February for conspiracy, bribes and wire fraud after a four-month trial-must also pay a fine of $ 2.5 million, the US district judge decided John Robert Blaury.

“I’m really sorry for having put the people in the state of Illinois through this,” Madigan said before their judgment, according to Associated Press. “I tried to do my best to serve the people of the state of Illinois. I’m not perfect.”

Madigan is the longest serving legislative leader in US history.

In February, Madigan was sentenced to 10 out of 23 bills of corruption after evidence at the trial revealed that he conspired with others to cause the benefit company Commonwealth Edison to “make monetary payments” to his co -workers and reward them for loyalty “in return to do some or no legitimate work for the business” News notice.

Madigan was previously acquitted of seven charges when the jury was locked in sex.

Politicians also planned with an age in the Chicago City Council to “direct legal work to Madigan’s private law firm and Madigan’s son” in exchange for Madigan’s help to get the official appointed as a compensated state board, according to the court.

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In addition, Madigan repeatedly injured “during the trial, said the court. According to Associated Press, Blakey Madigan described the position in his own defense as” an ill -demonstrated display of me and avoidance. ”

“You lied. You didn’t need to. You had the right to sit there and exercise your right to silence,” Blakey said. “But you took a stand and you took the law in your own hands.”

Madigan’s defense lawyers requested a penalty of five years of provision for his client, according to AP and The hillThe statement that his wife Shirley Madigan – who left a video to the court – would benefit from his care. The judge, however, shared that federal penalty guidelines allowed a judgment of 105 years, by AP.

During Madigan’s judgment, the judge revealed that many people left letters that spoke to Madigan’s character. “Being big is difficult,” he added. “Being honest is not. It is difficult to commit crime. It actually requires effort.”

Assistant US lawyer Sarah Streicker said that politicians “had every opportunity to set the standard for honest government”, but “fits right into the form of yet another corrupt leader in Illinois.”

US lawyer for the Northern District of Illinois Andrew Boutros, one of three people who announced the verdict this week, said in a statement that the trial sent a “clear message that the criminal construction of former speaker Madigan was unacceptable.”

“I could not be proud of the strong commitment to our law enforcement partners at the FBI and the IRS Criminal Investigation,” Boutros continued. “Our office and our partners remain steady in our commitment to vigorously prosecute corruption at all government levels and keep public officials responsible for violating public confidence.”

According to Chicago-Sun TimesMadigan will be in prison on October 13.