Madigan Sentenced: 7 ½ Years, $2.5 Million Fine for Public Corruption
Once the most powerful politician in Illinois, former House Speaker Michael Madigan was sentenced on Friday to 7½ years in federal prison and a $2.5 million fine for multiple acts of political corruption. It’s a stunning fall for a man who ruled state politics like a mob boss, controlling government, rewarding allies, punishing opponents, and building one of the most formidable political machines in the country.
Madigan was indicted in 2022 after years of federal investigations. Prosecutors charged him with racketeering, bribery, wire fraud, and extortion for orchestrating a scheme in which he traded official favors for personal and political gain. At the heart of the case was a series of deals involving utility giant ComEd, which prosecutors said secured favorable legislation in exchange for funneling no-work jobs and contracts to Madigan’s allies.
The trial revealed a political operation run like an organized crime syndicate—one that blurred the lines between public service and personal power. Madigan was ultimately convicted on all major counts, ending a career that shaped state government for half a century.
But while Madigan faces justice, the system that enabled him remains intact. Not a single ethics reform targeting the General Assembly has passed since his indictment. While Senate Republicans have introduced measures calling for independent oversight and tighter revolving-door laws, Democratic leaders have blocked action. Without meaningful reform, Madigan’s conviction may serve as a warning, but not the fix Illinois still desperately needs.
Pritzker Defends His Sanctuary State Agenda While Illinoisans Pay the Price
Governor J.B. Pritzker traveled to Washington, D.C. last week to testify on Illinois’ sanctuary state policies. His immigration agenda has cost Illinois citizens billions of dollars. While Pritzker claims he’s simply following existing law, in reality he has pushed policies that dramatically limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, even in cases involving repeat offenders, violent criminals, and known gang members.
In 2021, Gov. Pritzker signed legislation forcing counties to cancel long-standing ICE detention contracts, weakening the state’s ability to detain and deport dangerous individuals. He also empowered the Attorney General to investigate and penalize police departments that assist federal immigration officials, sending a chilling message to law enforcement across Illinois..
Beyond enforcement, Pritzker created the taxpayer-funded Welcoming Illinois office to expand benefits for undocumented immigrants, including free healthcare—costing billions at a time when working families are struggling with inflation, rising taxes, and public safety concerns.
The testimony wasn’t just about immigration policy. It was about a governor more focused on currying favor in Washington than protecting the people of Illinois. Residents deserve leadership rooted in accountability, not political ambition.
Mark Your Calendars for Wilcox Outreach Events!
Don’t forget that this summer’s community outreach events kick off on Thursday, June 26, with an ICASH Unclaimed Property Event in Fox Lake. These ICASH events are incredibly popular, and my office’s running total for cash returned to constituents stands at $3,406,150.95! In most cases, the recipients didn’t even know they had cash or property waiting for them!
Please mark your calendars now for these upcoming events and visit the Events page of my website regularly to be kept up to date about events taking place near you.
- June 26: ICASH Unclaimed Property Event, Fox Lake Public Library, 255 East Grand Avenue, Fox Lake, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
- July 15: Conversations Untapped, Spirit Water Brewery, Distillery, and Taproom, 3300 Three Oaks Road, Cary, 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
- July 23: Conversations Untapped, Rivalry Ale House, 945 Main Street, Antioch, IL, 5:30PM – 7:00PM
- August 16: Document Shredding Event, Office of State Rep. Steve Reick, 1072 Lake Avenue, Woodstock, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- August 21: Barks & Brews Pet Adoption Event, Kishwaukee Brewing, 1900 Dillard Court, Woodstock, 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
- September 17: IPASS on Demand, Lake Villa District Library, 140 N. Munn Road, Lindenhurst, 12:30 PM – 5:00 PM
- October 14: Senior Resource Fair, Grand Oaks Recreation Center, 1401 IL-176, Crystal Lake, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Illinoisans Warned to Beware of SOS Phishing Scams
The Secretary of State’s (SOS) Office is warning Illinoisans to keep on the lookout for text message scams claiming to be from the “Illinois State Department of Motor Vehicles” that threaten to suspend vehicle registration and driving privileges.
The text messages are phishing attempts designed to trick residents into giving up personal or financial information. Recipients should not respond or open any links found in unsolicited texts and emails.
Please know that the SOS office does not send text messages that include threats to suspend vehicle registration or driving privileges. The office only sends text messages to remind residents about scheduled DMV appointments. It does not send text messages regarding driver’s license or vehicle registration status.
Illinoisans are encouraged to report scam attempts to the Federal Trade Commission by visiting reportfraud.ftc.gov.
Sports Betting Just Got More Expensive—Thanks to Illinois Democrats
Illinois Democrats recently approved a new per-wager tax on online sports bets, adding another financial burden to consumers and threatening the state’s legal sports betting industry.
Beginning July 1, Illinois sportsbooks must pay $0.25 on each of the first 20 million bets placed statewide annually and $0.50 on every bet after that. FanDuel has announced it will begin charging a $0.50 fee on every wager starting September 1.
This follows a steep tax increase passed last year that already raised rates to as high as 40% for top operators.