The oldest legislative leader in the history of the United States to be sentenced to corruption
Springfield, Illin oldest legislative leader In the United States, history is condemned on the federal Corruption, conspiracy and fraud by wire The convictions linked to a program to push legislation in exchange for jobs and contracts against its partners.
The former president of the Chamber of Illinois was sentenced in February out of 10 of the 23 charges in a remarkable corruption trial that lasted four months. The case projected 60 witnesses and mountains of documents, photographs and Registered conversations.
Madigan was in court on Friday afternoon before the American district judge John Robert Blakey, who will determine his sentence.
Federal Prosecutors are looking for a prison sentence of 12 1/2 years. Madigan Lawyers are looking for probationSaying that the government’s sentence “would condemn an 83 -year -old man to die behind bars for crimes that have enriched him a penny”.
During legislative career which lasted half a centuryMadigan served nearly four decades as a speaker, the longest ever registered for an American legislator. Combined with more than 20 years as president of the Democratic Party of Illinois, he established a large part of the state’s political agenda while fiddling candidates for a political position. More often than not, he also controlled political cards, draw lines to promote his party.
Meanwhile, prosecutors said, the Chicago Democrat built a private legal career which allowed him to raise a net value of $ 40 million.
Madigan was found guilty of 10 corruption leaders, conspiracy, wire fraud and other accusations to guarantee the approval of the law favorable to the giant of public services in exchange for bribes and jobs and contracts for loyalists, including an alderman of Chicago in search of a paid job within a council of state after the government’s retirement.
The jury was involved in six counts, including a compliance accusation of a global racketeering, and acquitted it on seven others.
“Madigan Criminal activity lasted almost a decade And was particularly blatant because it involved efforts to get rich – both by maintaining his political power by obtaining jobs to make for his political allies and trying to line his own pockets with legal affairs, “prosecutors wrote in a judicial file.” In doing so, Madigan served his own personal interests and not in the interests of Illinois. “”
Defense lawyers have called the “draconian” government’s recommended sentence and, taking into account the age of Madigan, a perpetuity sentence. They asked Blakey to consider the entire life and work of Madigan and the need to take care of his wife by asking for a sentence of five years of probation, with a year of home confinement, an obligation to carry out a community service and a “reasonable fine”.
In a video subject to court, Madigan’s wife, Shirley, asks a probation sentence, explaining that Madigan is her caregiver and that she should ask for external help if he was imprisoned. And, she says: “I am part of him.”
“I continue it a few days ago,” said Shirley Madigan on the video. “It sometimes makes me last, but I think that the impact I have on him was much, much bigger.”
The court has received more than 200 letters of support for Madigan, many of whom, many voters, friends, managers of non -profit organizations and other organizations that interact with the state. Some noted him asking him for help only once. The most praised him for dedication, integrity or a personal touch.
“Mike Madigan is a good man who has made an exceptional amount of good for others,” wrote his lawyers in a separate file. “It is widely respected for its dedication to honesty and integrity.”
Michael McClain, Michael McClain. The jury could not make any decision on any of the six charges against MCCLAIN. However, he was convicted in a separate trial on the comic plot last year.
