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* You can click here and here to follow the Madigan trial. Tribune…
A federal judge on Monday denied a motion by former House Speaker Michael Madigan seeking to overturn his recent conviction on bribery and other corruption counts, setting the stage for a high-stakes sentencing hearing later this week.
Madigan, 83, was back in the federal courtroom for the first time since a jury convicted him nearly four months ago. But unlike his marathon trial, Monday’s hearing was brief.
After both sides waived oral arguments on the defense motion, U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey announced he was denying it, though his ruling, which he said is more than 100 pages, won’t be made public for some time.
* Sun-Times…
Prosecutors wrote in a court filing late Friday that “Madigan has amassed a personal fortune of more than $40 million.” They did so as they complained of his “appalling” greed amid a scheme to trade on the office he once held, as well as former Chicago Ald. Danny Solis’.
But Monday, Madigan’s attorneys insisted that any claim that he was “lining his pockets” is “patently false.” They complained that prosecutors breached the direction of local courts when they “recklessly exposed” Madigan’s net worth, and they asked that it be stricken from the record. […]
Defense attorney Dan Collins insisted during the hearing that “Mr. Madigan’s net worth has nothing to do with this case.”
Blakey declined to make any ruling on the issue. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Streicker simply said prosecutors opposed Madigan’s motion. It will likely be addressed again during a follow-up hearing Tuesday.
*** UPDATE *** Tribune court reporter Jason Meisner…
Judge Blakey has granted the motion to strike the disclosure of Madigan’s net worth from the public record.
Please erase our story from your collective memories— Jason Meisner (@jmetr22b) June 10, 2025
* WGN…
[O]n Friday, June 13, Madigan’s wife, Shirley, asked for leniency in a videotaped appeal. Shirley Madigan says she can’t manage without her husband in the emotional 8-minute-long video.
“I really don’t exist without him,” she said. ” I wish I could say that I do, but I don’t know what I would do without Michael. I would probably have to find someplace to live.”
Defense lawyers collected close to 200 messages for the court in defense of their client, consisting of family members, former colleagues, labor leaders, and even clergy. Prosecutors, however, in their submittal to the court, pointed to Madigan’s 10-count criminal conviction.
“Madigan seeks extraordinary leniency from the Court—a sentence of probation for a former high-level elected official convicted of abusing his office for years through bribery, fraud, and conspiracy.”
* Shirley Madigan’s full video statement…
Click here to read the letters of support for Madigan.
* More…
* Sun-Times | Michael Madigan’s wife makes video plea to judge: ‘He loves me … I’m a part of him‘: Among other things, Shirley Madigan discussed the daughter she had before she married Michael Madigan — Lisa Madigan. Shirley Madigan explained how she used to put the now-former attorney general to bed with assurances that the child would see Michael Madigan when he returned from Springfield. Nevertheless, Shirley Madigan said she’d later find Lisa Madigan sleeping with a pillow and blanket near the door, so she’d “see him as soon as he came in.”
* WTTW | Judge Rejects Michael Madigan’s Motion for Acquittal as Ex-Speaker’s Corruption Case Heads Toward Sentencing This Week: The longtime speaker, who for decades acted as the most powerful politician in Illinois, breezed into court carrying an umbrella and sat silently at the defense table throughout the hearing. Madigan was convicted on 10 counts in total, relating to his efforts to secure a valuable state board position for disgraced former Chicago Ald. Danny Solis and to the most wide-ranging of the alleged bribery schemes outlined by the government involving utility giant Commonwealth Edison.
posted by Isabel Miller
Tuesday, Jun 10, 25 @ 10:01 am
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The NDIL federal judges are going to look like a bunch of clowns if Madigan gets the book thrown at him and Burke gets off with a slap on the wrist.
Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Tuesday, Jun 10, 25 @ 10:22 am
judging from the video, Madigan sounds like a model husband, father and grandfather. can’t take that away.
Comment by jim Tuesday, Jun 10, 25 @ 10:26 am
How do you amass over 40 million dollars as a State Rep and Partner at a Law Firm. I can see why the Feds did this. It looks like they want the public to know…and draw their own conclusions.
Comment by Ryder Tuesday, Jun 10, 25 @ 10:34 am
The Chicago White Sox were quick to capitalize on the new Pope’s support for his favorite baseball team. I am not sure if the team will be so eager to publicly embrace the former Speaker of the House. Shirley Madigan really incorporated family photos of the Madigans at White Sox games into her video.
Comment by Soxfest Tuesday, Jun 10, 25 @ 10:41 am
=== How do you amass over 40 million dollars as a State Rep and Partner at a Law Firm. ===
Um… he’s a partner of a law firm. Hate to break it to you, but there are many many partners of law firms in the Chicago area that have amassed a net worth of much more than $40mil.
Comment by Remember the Alamo II Tuesday, Jun 10, 25 @ 10:44 am
His net worth is not related to his conviction. It seems like the prosecution is saying “He’s got a lot of money, he must have gotten it illegally” without offering any proof to that point.
Comment by Friendly Bob Adams Tuesday, Jun 10, 25 @ 10:44 am
I really hate the games the federal court system allows with sentencing white collar crime based in part on sympathy plays.
Blago had no friends so he got a harsh sentence. Burke had lots of friends so he gets a light sentence.
It’s just so gross.
Comment by hisgirlfriday Tuesday, Jun 10, 25 @ 10:51 am
==Please erase our story from your collective memories==
Love the response from Meisner.
Comment by ElTacoBandito Tuesday, Jun 10, 25 @ 11:08 am
As Mrs. Madigan has extensive family and grandchildren, she would not be alone to depend on Michael Madigan for care. With Michael Madigan’s $40MM nest egg, I am certain that live-in caregivers would be available for Mrs. Madigan’s needs.
Not an excuse to waive the sentence.
Comment by Rudy’s teeth Tuesday, Jun 10, 25 @ 11:23 am
The guy ran an organized crime syndicate under the Dome of the State Capitol. For years. This is but one of the companies they shook down. There were dozens.
Perhaps just as alarming as the acts themselves is that so many STILL do not understand that it is wrong.
There are good and decent folks in Government. This guy is neither.
Comment by Seriously? Tuesday, Jun 10, 25 @ 11:26 am
I don’t think it helps that there are tons of cuts in the video which means they edited it a lot.
Comment by BigLou Tuesday, Jun 10, 25 @ 11:27 am
=== I don’t think it helps that there are tons of cuts in the video which means they edited it a lot. ===
Mrs. Madigan is really sick, and editing would be necessary to remove all of the moments where she needed a break due to her condition.
Comment by Remember the Alamo II Tuesday, Jun 10, 25 @ 11:39 am
Both Ed Burke and Mike Madigan specialized in property tax assessment appeals. Their political posts helped them secure clients. The perception was they had more than enough political clout to reduce assessments. In other states, unlike Illinois, attorney politicians have stronger conflict of interest limits placed upon them that prohibit accepting cases that appear to cross such ethical lines.
Some of the personal wealth that these politicians amassed as attorneys was closely related to their
holding elected offices.
Burke is sleeping on a cot in a Federal prison now. Madigan is waiting to be sentenced.
Comment by Ethics Free Zone Tuesday, Jun 10, 25 @ 11:45 am
Also keep in mind that the $40mm in net worth is only the stuff we know about. A rat like Madigan no doubt has/had several hidey-holes for a good chunk of his actual assets.
Comment by CA-HOON Tuesday, Jun 10, 25 @ 11:50 am
I am going against the grain but at this point put him on home confinement. I don’t know if that possible but let take care of her. At this point it too late he is not going to cause and problems. I know folks want justice, but it does not exist all the time.
Comment by clec dcn Tuesday, Jun 10, 25 @ 12:00 pm
=== A rat like Madigan no doubt has/had several hidey-holes for a good chunk of his actual assets. ===
I wonder what assets you think he has beyond $40mil and why you think that? Hate can really cloud someone’s judgment or make them believe conspiracy theories.
Comment by Remember the Alamo II Tuesday, Jun 10, 25 @ 12:01 pm
I wonder if the people calling for Madigan’s head are the same people who constantly criticize the SAFE-T Act.
Comment by Remember the Alamo II Tuesday, Jun 10, 25 @ 12:03 pm
I don’t mean to be cold, but Mrs. Madigan certainly benefited from his crimes. She, too, must suffer for it.
Comment by Politix Tuesday, Jun 10, 25 @ 12:13 pm
=== I don’t mean to be cold, but Mrs. Madigan certainly benefited from his crimes. She, too, must suffer for it. ===
You are a horrible person. Since when did we start wanting sick, elderly people to suffer for the sins of their spouses. Sometimes I think that people’s hate for Madigan really makes them lose their sensibilities.
Comment by Remember the Alamo II Tuesday, Jun 10, 25 @ 12:16 pm
How much has Michael J. Madigan cost the people of Illinois? People across the entire state are also suffering due to the decades of wheeling and dealing that took place in the General Assembly.
Comment by Don't do the crime... Tuesday, Jun 10, 25 @ 1:31 pm
This US Attorney’s office is truly out of control, they knew the net worth isn’t revenant. And I’ll come back to all the ‘bribery’ they prosecuted over the last 10 years, it really appears the vast majority was bribes funded by the local US Attorney and FBI offices.
Comment by Annoyed Tuesday, Jun 10, 25 @ 1:45 pm
The Two Eddies—Burke and Vrdolyak—had their time on the dance floor of Dirksen Federal Building. Eddie Vrdolyak was sentenced to prison not once but twice. Eddie Burke currently sits in the joint.
Mike Madigan is up next in the batter’s box. Three former aldermen in the City Council…shaking my head.
Comment by Rudy’s teeth Tuesday, Jun 10, 25 @ 1:51 pm
Rudy’s teet: Who is the 3rd former aldermen other than Eddie V and eddie B???
Comment by SEIU (Retired) Tuesday, Jun 10, 25 @ 2:20 pm
An update to my post…Michael Madigan was the Democratic Committeeman for the 13th Ward and former Speaker of the House.
Comment by Rudy’s teeth Tuesday, Jun 10, 25 @ 2:32 pm
What impact would it have on the sentence if Madigan were to admit to his mistake and apologize? It seems that he wouldn’t have much to lose by rolling those dice.
Comment by Downstate Tuesday, Jun 10, 25 @ 2:58 pm
Bob Cooley made some pretty vile, but credible, allegations about Burke in his book. Madigan obviously had his faults, but there was a lot to respect about him too.
Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Tuesday, Jun 10, 25 @ 3:12 pm
Mike Madigan also used his office to directly and indirectly increase the net worth of his children.
And he resisted any effort to make the financial disclosure process for elected officials in Illinois more transparent.
I got no problem with this disclosure.
Comment by Ieada Mafoudi Tuesday, Jun 10, 25 @ 4:08 pm
LONGER the sentence…..the BETTER
Comment by It's always Sunny in Illinois Tuesday, Jun 10, 25 @ 4:36 pm
Reading the Madigan story just makes me feel badly for Lisa. And I wonder, what might have been, had her dad made other choices. I liked working with her and her people. I think she could have made a good governor, if her dad had stepped aside. I never had to choose between my career and my kids, but Mike did. Happy Father’s Day, Mike.
Comment by Give Us Barabbas Tuesday, Jun 10, 25 @ 6:02 pm
Give Us Barabbas is spot on. 100%.
Comment by low level Wednesday, Jun 11, 25 @ 8:52 am