Sat Jun 14 04:10:00 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article summarizing the provided text:
**Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan Sentenced to 7.5 Years in Prison for Bribery and Corruption**
**CHICAGO** – Michael J. Madigan, the once-powerful Illinois House Speaker and Democratic Party leader, was sentenced Friday to 7.5 years in prison and ordered to pay a $2.5 million fine for his role in a far-reaching bribery scheme. The conviction marks a stunning fall from grace for a man who dominated Illinois politics for decades.
Madigan, 83, was found guilty in February on 10 counts, including conspiracy, bribery, and wire fraud, related to a scheme where he allegedly traded government access and contracts for jobs and favors. The jury found that Madigan used his powerful position to solicit bribes from Commonwealth Edison (ComEd), a major electrical utility. Prosecutors successfully argued that ComEd hired Madigan associates as subcontractors who performed little to no work in exchange for Madigan’s support of favorable state legislation.
While the jury acquitted Madigan on seven other charges, including attempted extortion, the conviction delivered a significant blow to his legacy and exposed the underbelly of Illinois’s political machine.
During the sentencing hearing, Judge John Robert Blakey of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois harshly criticized Madigan, accusing him of lying under oath and attempting to mislead the jury. “You lied,” Judge Blakey stated. “You took that stand and you took the law into your own hands.”
Before the sentence was handed down, Madigan addressed the court, saying, “I’m truly sorry for putting the people of the state of Illinois through this. I tried to do my best. I am not perfect.”
Madigan was indicted in March 2022, and the case has sent shockwaves through the Illinois political landscape. His conviction is viewed as a major victory for federal prosecutors and a warning against corruption in government.
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