Local lawmakers react after former Illinois Speaker Michael Madigan sentenced in federal corruption case

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WSIL) -- The former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan was sentenced on June 13, on federal corruption charges. He was also given a $2.5 million fine.

Madigan was the longest-serving legislative leader in U.S. history and was sentenced to 7 1/2 years in prison after convicted in February on 10 of 23 charges in a four-month trial.

Illinois lawmakers reacted to the sentencing...

Illinois 12th Congressional District Mike Bost (R) shared the following statement...

State Senator Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) issued the following statement...

State Representative Patrick Windhorst (R-Harrisburg) issued the following statement...

State Representative Patrick Windhorst (R)

“Speaker Madigan will now be a federal prison inmate, and for his crimes against the people of Illinois, that is where he belongs. “Speaker Madigan broke the trust of the people he was elected to represent by engaging in what prosecutors described as the ‘Make Mike Madigan Money Plan��. Mike Madigan ruled Illinois with an iron fist, amassed a historically unmatched kingdom of political power, and sadly, used his power and influence to put his personal financial interests ahead of those of the citizens of Illinois.��

Windhorst, who serves as the House Republican Floor Leader and as the House Republican Ranking Member on the House Ethics & Elections Committee, says Democrats must wake up and take action to curb further instances of public corruption by enacting meaningful and lasting ethics reforms.

“I’m a co-sponsor of several bills that would target public corruption and provide real disincentives to those politicians who would breach the public trust for their own financial gain. I support banning legislators from serving as lobbyists, a ban on the use of campaign funds to pay for legal defense, and empowering the Legislative Inspector General to have subpoena power so that office has the power it needs to conduct thorough investigations. My message to my Democratic colleagues is this: Wake up and take action to stop public corruption. Let’s ensure that the citizens of Illinois are never again wronged by another Mike Madigan.��

State Representative Dave Severin issues the following statement...

State Representative Dave Severin (R)

“Mike Madigan is a convicted felon. He belongs in jail, and that’s where he’s going for a long time,�� Severin said. “Madigan ruled Illinois with an iron fist, stopped good legislation, rewarded political allies, and consolidated unprecedented power while lining his pockets with money from his corruption. The crimes that Madigan perpetrated upon the people of Illinois bring to mind a famous quote, “Absolute power corrupts, absolutely.��

“If Madigan’s conviction and lengthy prison sentence don’t cause Democrats to act on ethics reforms, maybe nothing ever will, and that is a shame,�� Severin said. “I stand ready to vote to change Illinois�� culture of corruption for good. I urge my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to join me.��

State Representative Paul Jacobs (R) issued the following statement...

Illinois Senate Republican Leader John Curran (R-Downers Grove) released the following statement...

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