Michael J. Madigan, the former Illinois House Speaker who led the Illinois Democratic Party for decades and stood as one of the most powerful political figures in the state and the nation, has been criminally indicted.
On March 2, federal prosecutors in Chicago unveiled a 22-page indictment, accusing Madigan of leading a criminal racketeering enterprise designed to use the power he had accumulated through the decades at the top of the Democratic Party and the Illinois General Assembly, to further increase his political power and steer profit to himself, his friends, political allies, and his law firm, Madigan & Getzendanner.
“Corruption by an elected official and his associates undermines the public’s confidence in our government,” said U.S. Attorney John Lausch, in a prepared statement posted online. “The indictment alleges a long-term, multifaceted scheme to use public positions for unlawful private gain.”
The indictment centers on allegations connected to the ongoing investigation of bribes, in the form of favors, jobs and other benefits, allegedly paid by electrical utility ComEd to Madigan’s operation, in exchange for Madigan’s help in pushing through new laws sought by ComEd allegedly to allow it rake in billions of dollars from its Illinois electrical customers, and to kill legislation opposed by ComEd.
That investigation to this point had resulted in indictments against ComEd and some of its executives, and several known associates of Madigan, including Madigan confidant former State Rep. Michael McClain, who is accused of helping arrange the favors and bribes at Madigan’s behest.
To this point, Madigan had only been identified as Public Official A.
For nearly all of the past four decades, Madigan had served as Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives. In that role, and as chairman of the Illinois Democratic Party, Madigan amassed a vast wealth of power, money and influence, across virtually all levels of government in the state.
Madigan held sway over affairs in Springfield, using his campaign coffers and tight-fisted control of the legislative process and committee assignments to keep Democrats in line, and Republicans out of power.
Democrats across the state benefited from his campaign cash, abiding by Madigan’s rule and refusing to cross the Speaker, in exchange for Madigan’s money to ensure their election and advancement.
Among the biggest contributors to Madigan's political organization were labor unions and Illinois trial lawyers.
Democrats particularly rallied around Madigan as recently as 2014-2018, during the years in which Republican Bruce Rauner served in the governor’s office, seeking to advance a range of reforms.
Democrats maintained their support for Madigan throughout most of the years identified in the indictment, from 2011-2021.
Democrats eventually moved to remove Madigan as Speaker in early 2021, only after federal prosecutors indicted several of Madigan’s close associates, and the trail drew ever closer to the former Speaker himself.
After he was removed from the Speaker’s office, Madigan resigned from the Illinois House altogether.
In the new indictment, federal prosecutors clearly named Madigan as the leader of the alleged criminal racketeering “Madigan Enterprise.”
“The purposes of the Madigan Enterprise included but were not limited to: (i) to exercise, to preserve, and to enhance Madigan’s political power and financial well-being; (ii) to financially reward Madigan’s political allies, political workers, and associates for their loyalty, association with, and work for Madigan; and (iii) to generate income for members and associates of the enterprise through illegal activities,” the indictment read.
Prosecutors assert Madigan directed the enterprise in soliciting hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash payments to Madigan associates, in securing spots on the ComEd board for Madigan loyalists, and in directing business to an unidentified law firm, favored by Madigan.
The indictment further accuses Madigan of soliciting and accepting bribes from former Chicago Alderman Danny Solis in 2018 in the form of business from unidentified companies and the owners of unidentified commercial properties in Chicago, for his firm, Madigan & Getzendanner.
That firm has long been known as one of the most influential property tax appeal firms in Chicago and the state.
In exchange, Madigan agreed to help persuade the “future Governor of the State of Illinois” to appoint Solis, identified in the indictment as Alderman A, to a seat on a state board and help a relative of the alderman secure a state job. According to the indictment, Madigan said he would meet with then-Gov. Elect JB Pritzker in November or December 2018 “to let the Governor-elect ‘know what’s coming next.’”
“Madigan in return assured Alderman A that he would help him obtain a State board appointment by telling Alderman A, ‘Just leave it in my hands,’ and asked that Alderman A also help a relative of MADIGAN and the relative’s employer obtain business…,” the indictment read.
Pritzker has denied he discussed that request with Madigan, and did not appoint Solis to any position.
Prosecutors further allege Madigan used his power in state government to guide through a transfer of a Chicago Chinatown parking lot from the Illinois Department of Transportation to private developers, in exchange for more work for his law firm.