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Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s stunning fall from power ended Friday with a seven and a half year prison sentence and a $2.5 million fine.
The once-mighty speaker, who held the title of longest-serving legislative leader in American history, was convicted of trading legislation for favors and financial perks for his friends and political allies.
U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey handed down the sentence in federal court in Chicago, closing the chapter on a man once known as the “Velvet Hammer” for his quiet but ruthless grip on power. Madigan, now 83, was found guilty in February on 10 of 23 counts after a four-month corruption trial that featured 60 witnesses and piles of evidence, including documents, photos, and recorded conversations, The Associated Press reported.
