Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Illinois’ ex-House speaker charged with racketeering
The Associated Press ^ | March 2, 2022 | By MICHAEL TARM and JOHN O’CONNOR

Posted on 03/02/2022 3:07:49 PM PST by Oldeconomybuyer

CHICAGO (AP) — Michael Madigan, the former speaker of the Illinois House and for decades one of the nation’s most powerful legislators, was charged with racketeering and bribery Wednesday, becoming the most prominent politician swept up in a federal investigation of entrenched government corruption in the state.

Madigan, 79, is charged in the 22-count indictment with racketeering conspiracy, using interstate facilities in aid of bribery, wire fraud and attempted extortion.

Madigan, who resigned from the Legislature a year ago, was the longest-serving state House speaker in modern U.S. history and was nicknamed the “Velvet Hammer” for his insistence on strict party discipline. A procession of senior Illinois politicians, including three governors, was charged during his tenure, but politicians long believed the savvy Madigan would never be among them.

The 106-page indictment alleges Madigan used not just his role as speaker, but various positions of power to further his alleged criminal enterprise, including his chairmanship of the Illinois Democratic Party. It also accuses Madigan of reaping the benefits of private legal work illegally steered to his law firm, including from firms with matters before the state or the city of Chicago.

(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Illinois
KEYWORDS: democrats; illinois; michaelmadigan; shocked; shockedshocked
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-54 next last
(D)
1 posted on 03/02/2022 3:07:49 PM PST by Oldeconomybuyer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

“Madigan, 79”

To quote someone: “At this point, what difference does it make?”


2 posted on 03/02/2022 3:09:10 PM PST by decal (MOLON JABE)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

Madigan, 79, hack politician in perpetuity.


3 posted on 03/02/2022 3:12:53 PM PST by JonPreston (Q: Never have so many, been so wrong, so often)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

(d)

Ya. Skimmed the whole post not seeing anything, so ya. (D)


4 posted on 03/02/2022 3:12:57 PM PST by stanne
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

Look for party affiliation.If it’s not in the first sentence you know he/she/it is a Rat.


5 posted on 03/02/2022 3:13:07 PM PST by Gay State Conservative (Covid Is All About Mail In Balloting)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Gay State Conservative

Sounds like something Hunter Biden would be involved in...


6 posted on 03/02/2022 3:14:31 PM PST by CMailBag
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

His daughter was IL AG for a while - until she left government in 2019. These are Federal charges, but I wonder if she saw the writing on the wall and got out while the gettin’ was good.


7 posted on 03/02/2022 3:15:20 PM PST by PGR88
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

This is like when the feds indict the “Boss” of a Mafia family except they don’t get around to it until the Boss is 83 and no longer running things on a day-to-day basis.


8 posted on 03/02/2022 3:15:54 PM PST by Freedumb
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

How the AP article would read if he were a republican:

Republican House speaker charged with racketeering
The Associated Press ^ | March 2, 2022 | By MICHAEL TARM and JOHN O’CONNOR

Posted on 3/2/2022, 6:07:49 PM by Oldeconomybuyer

CHICAGO (AP) — Republican Michael Madigan, the former speaker of the Illinois House and for decades one of the nation’s most powerful Republican legislators, was charged with racketeering and bribery Wednesday, becoming the most prominent Republican politician swept up in a federal investigation of entrenched Republican government corruption in the state.

Madigan, 79, is charged in the 22-count indictment with racketeering conspiracy, using interstate facilities in aid of bribery, wire fraud and attempted extortion in his position as the Republican speaker.

Madigan, who resigned from the Legislature a year ago, was the longest-serving Republican state House speaker in modern U.S. history and was nicknamed the “Velvet Hammer” for his insistence on strict Republican party discipline. A procession of senior Republican Illinois politicians, including three Republican governor, were charged during his tenure, but Republican politicians long believed the savvy Madigan would never be among them.


9 posted on 03/02/2022 3:16:11 PM PST by Pxzftrnqfrn
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: CMailBag

But Hunter knows he’d get a pardon.


10 posted on 03/02/2022 3:16:50 PM PST by Gay State Conservative (Covid Is All About Mail In Balloting)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

Yep, no mention of party affiliation in article. My how I despise these bastards!


11 posted on 03/02/2022 3:17:32 PM PST by KevinB (''...and to the Banana Republic for which it stands ...")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

Democrats are Democrats first.


12 posted on 03/02/2022 3:17:40 PM PST by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer”)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Pxzftrnqfrn

Well done!


13 posted on 03/02/2022 3:18:10 PM PST by KevinB (''...and to the Banana Republic for which it stands ...")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

Of course he’s a Dem. If he was a Republican, that would have been made clear in the first sentence.


14 posted on 03/02/2022 3:22:57 PM PST by Fresh Wind (We are living in 1984. We have always been living in 1984.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: PGR88

Illinois, the cradle of political corruption ? The former home of Hussein Obama and Hillary ?

Who woulda’ thought ?


15 posted on 03/02/2022 3:25:00 PM PST by BrexitBen
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

Too late, the state is already ruined financially.


16 posted on 03/02/2022 3:25:59 PM PST by glorgau
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: KevinB

Dem (fourth paragraph)


17 posted on 03/02/2022 3:27:08 PM PST by Seaplaner (Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never...in nothing, great or small...Winston Churchill)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Gay State Conservative
Look for party affiliation.If it’s not in the first sentence you know he/she/it is a Rat.

As a resident of HELLINOIS, I can tell you factually Madigan is a DEMOCRAT.

The new IL Speaker of the House is also a DEMOCRAT, hand-picked by Madigan himself.

18 posted on 03/02/2022 3:27:16 PM PST by usconservative (When The Ballot Box No Longer Counts, The Ammunition Box Does. (What's In Your Ammo Box?))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

Surprised I found the word “Democrat” as early as the third paragraph.


19 posted on 03/02/2022 3:27:50 PM PST by Navy Patriot (Celebrate Decivilization)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Pxzftrnqfrn

Hilarious!


20 posted on 03/02/2022 3:28:43 PM PST by frogjerk (I will not do business with fascists)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-54 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson