Michael Madigan, the longest-serving democratic speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives, will have to begin serving his seven-and-a-half-year sentence for corruption and bribery while he appeals. According to a report in the Chicago Sun-Times, Madigan helped advance the political career of City Councilman Danny Solis in exchange for Solis drumming up business for Madigan’s law firm. Additionally, according to a report in Capitol News Illinois, Madigan was prominently involved in a wide-ranging and complex scheme involving the local branch of AT&T and the construction of an apartment complex, which was marked by a shady contract despite no work being completed. This is quite the fall from grace for someone who has been deeply involved in Illinois politics for decades. I’m shocked that, in 2025, Chicago could still be plagued by political corruption in the Democratic Party.
Tag: Chicago
Ex- Chicago Alderman Burke Facing ten years in Prison on Corruption Charges.
Prosecutors in Chicago recommended that former Alderman Ed Burke face ten years on corruption and bribery charges. According to a report in CBS, Burke pressured businesses, including a Burger King franchise, a liquor store called Binny’s Beverage Depot, and the Field Museum of Natural History, to use his private property tax law firm. According to a report by the local PBS affiliate, Burke’s lawyers (who were paid $4 million out of campaign funds) argued that at 80, Burke was just an older man who had dedicated his life to helping the good people of Chicago. I could just about believe that if it wasn’t for the fact that Burke has a net worth of $30 million. Sadly, it appears that democratic politics in Chicago haven’t changed very much over the years.
Ex- Illinois Senator Arrested After Breaching Pre-trial Conditions.
This past Friday, the former Illinois republican state senator William “Sam” McCann was taken into custody after allegedly breaching his bail conditions before facing trial on corruption charges. According to a report by the local CBS affiliate in Chicago, McCann’s trial was supposed to start last week but was postponed when he failed to contact his probation officer and was admitted to a hospital in St Louis for an unspecified health issue. McCann is accused of taking money intended for his third-party gubernatorial campaign. McCann apparently spent $60,000 on an F-250 truck and a Ford Expedition SUV. It never ceases to amaze me what corrupt schemes politicians come up with; compared to the LA Councilman last week, this is small potatoes, but political powers in its many forms causes people to commit irrational actions.
Crispin Corruption Report 