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* US District Judge John Robert Blakely wants some more information about sentencing guidelines from federal prosecutors and former House Speaker Michael Madigan…
Specifically, Sentencing Guideline § 2C1.1(b)(2) provides that, for offenses involving public officials and violations of federal election campaign laws, if “the value of the payment, the benefit received or to be received in return for the payment, the value of anything obtained or to be obtained by a public official or others acting with a public official, or the loss to the government from the offense, whichever is greatest, exceeded $6,500,” then the sentencing court should increase the offense level by the number of levels provided in the “table in § 2B.1.” Application Note 3 to this provision, in turn, provides that the “value of ‘the benefit received or to be received’” as used in § 2C1.1(b)(2) “means the net value of such benefit.” U.S.S.G. § 2C1.1. App. n. 3. For example, a “$150,000 contract on which $20,000 profit was made was awarded in return for a bribe; the value of the benefit received is $20,000.” Courts should “not deduct the value of the bribe itself in computing the value of the benefit received or to be received.”
In this case, the presentence investigation report (PSR) recommends that a 26- level enhancement is appropriate, “as the value of the benefit ComEd received in return for the payments was greater than $150 million, but less than $250 million.” Probation arrived at this calculation because (1) the Government’s version of the offense describes “how the legislation affecting ComEd was worth more than $150 million,” and (2) “ComEd itself further admitted to this value when it entered into a deferred prosecution agreement with the United States.” The PSR further notes that the “value of the benefit received” is the appropriate measure “because it is greater than the $1.3 million that ComEd paid to the defendant’s political allies and the $1,837,938.13 paid to Reyes Kurson’s law firm.”
The Government, in concurrence with U.S. Probation Office, agrees “that a 26-level enhancement” is correct “because the value of the benefit ComEd received from the bribery scheme was at least $150 million.” […]
Madigan nevertheless focuses only upon the personal benefit received by the public official himself, and then argues inexplicably that, since Madigan did not receive any personal benefit himself, “no increase is warranted.” […]
The Court does not make any factual findings in advance of sentencing. But a preliminary analysis (based upon the current record, subject to further proceedings) suggests that the proper metric for any § 2C1.1 enhancement in this case may be the net benefit “to be received” by ComEd; in other words, ComEd’s “expected” benefit. […]
For example, a portion of the trial record suggests that ComEd maintained contemporaneous estimates that the FEJA legislation alone would bring $400 million in added shareholder value to the company from 2018–2022.
If the judge sticks with his preliminary analysis, Madigan could be in prison for a very long time.
The judge scheduled a hearing on this matter for June 10th. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for Friday, June 13th.
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Jun 6, 25 @ 2:14 pm
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Longer sentence……. the better
Comment by It's always Sunny in Illinois Friday, Jun 6, 25 @ 2:41 pm
I bet Madigan wishes he had Burke’s judge
Comment by DuPage Saint Friday, Jun 6, 25 @ 2:53 pm
So, maybe Lisa’s touching letter won’t make any difference.
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2025/06/02/lisa-madigans-letter-of-support-for-her-adopted-father/
Comment by cal skinner Friday, Jun 6, 25 @ 2:55 pm
He should not see the light of day as in the Velvet Hammer no more.
Comment by Baseball Friday, Jun 6, 25 @ 3:14 pm
===Lisa’s touching letter===
Her letter comes from a different reality than the one I know.
Shame that Mike Madigan didn’t leave the same impression on his friends, political allies, and henchmen as he left on his daughter.
Shame that her version of Mike Madigan isn’t the version that Alaina Hampton knew.
Comment by Candy Dogood Friday, Jun 6, 25 @ 3:27 pm
It’s going to be tough having all that time to wonder why he chose a buffoon like Mike McClain to be his closest confidant.
Comment by Excitable Boy Friday, Jun 6, 25 @ 3:29 pm
This is the case on appeal isn’t it? It’s why it’s such a borderline case to begin with. Sounds like a big stretch to sentence him based on a $150 million benefit received when he didn’t receive the benefit.
Comment by chi Friday, Jun 6, 25 @ 3:38 pm
==This is the case on appeal isn’t it?==
What difference does that make?
Comment by Demoralized Friday, Jun 6, 25 @ 3:41 pm
Let’s hope it is good and long and he actually serves time.
Comment by JS Mill Friday, Jun 6, 25 @ 4:13 pm