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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
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To: PGR88
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.

The rumor when Lisa Madigan was selected was that she ran to protect her daddy.

When she announced she wasn't running for re-election, the rumors started flying that she couldn't protect her daddy without compromising herself and that's why she stepped down.

21 posted on 03/02/2022 3:29:31 PM PST by usconservative (When The Ballot Box No Longer Counts, The Ammunition Box Does. (What's In Your Ammo Box?))
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

I was wondering…. If it’s a Republican you know it in the first breath. When it is a Democrat you have to research it.


22 posted on 03/02/2022 3:33:19 PM PST by webheart (I thought I was helping by getting vaccinated but they say I didn’t help at all. )
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To: Pxzftrnqfrn

You got that right!


23 posted on 03/02/2022 3:36:08 PM PST by unixfox (Abolish Slavery, Repeal the 16th Amendment)
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To: BrexitBen

I know

I’m shocked!

Shocked I tell ya!


24 posted on 03/02/2022 3:36:19 PM PST by SaveFerris (The Lord, The Christ and The Messiah: Jesus Christ of Nazareth - http://www.BiblicalJesusChrist.Com/)
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To: usconservative
The rumor when Lisa Madigan was selected was that she ran to protect her daddy.

American political struggle and government is played out in LAWFARE. Its why US Attorney General is the most important cabinet position of all. And why I consider the US DOJ America's KGB - it vets and approves everything, and if it doesn't, the FBI will take care of it. Trump barely survived 4 years because of his lack of control of DOJ.

As for Madigan, I agree - who better to protect you from Lawfare than one's own daughter.

25 posted on 03/02/2022 3:37:34 PM PST by PGR88
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

For people in Chicago who follow politics, this is the all-time shocker. People bet millions that Madigan would never be caught. He controlled all of the building tax assessments and ran the law firm that appealed the taxes.

He stole $$$$$$$$Millions - whoever rolled on him better be in an under ground bunker.


26 posted on 03/02/2022 3:37:51 PM PST by EC Washington
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

As an Illinois resident my entire life I don’t care how old Madigan is. I’m glad to see that justice will prevail for this scumbag. And I hope he starts naming names of his fellow scumbags (I’m looking at you, union bosses). Maybe this will start the collapse of the IL Dem Party.

And let me the first to say, “Madigan didn’t kill himself.”


27 posted on 03/02/2022 3:40:43 PM PST by twoputt
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To: KevinB

They said Illinois.
What more do you need?


28 posted on 03/02/2022 3:42:10 PM PST by skimbell
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Hope he gets shanked in prison.


29 posted on 03/02/2022 3:45:52 PM PST by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

“That’s the problem with politics today. Too many politicians are more busy racketing than working for the people. They should be serving the people and not a birdie . . . oh, we are not talking about tennis? . . . NEVER MIND!”

- Rosanne Rosannadana


30 posted on 03/02/2022 3:46:02 PM PST by Pilgrim's Progress (http://www.baptistbiblebelievers.com/BYTOPICS/tabid/335/Default.aspx D)
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I only read the excerpt, but through magic I was able to intuit the political affiliation of the perp using only a pile of dried chicken bones


31 posted on 03/02/2022 3:52:42 PM PST by dsrtsage ( Complexity is just simple lacking imagination)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Who did he pi$$ off? All of these pols are racketeers. Why is he being singled out? Why not Lightfoot? There’s a corrupt racketeer if I ever saw one.


32 posted on 03/02/2022 3:56:25 PM PST by Seruzawa ("The Political left is the Garden of Eden of incompetence" - Marx the Smarter (Groucho))
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To: twoputt
Maybe this will start the collapse of the IL Dem Party.

This could rope in most of the Illinois "Republicans" too

A LOT of people criminals are going to have trouble sleeping tonight

Hoped... but

never though I'd live to see the day

7

33 posted on 03/02/2022 3:58:51 PM PST by infool7 (Those that make peaceful (counter)revolution impossible make violent rebellion inevitable. - JFK)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

This is just scratching the surface.


34 posted on 03/02/2022 4:00:28 PM PST by Maudeen (Live as if Christ is coming back in the next 10 min. Plan as if He’s not coming for another 100 yrs.)
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To: Pxzftrnqfrn

Yep


35 posted on 03/02/2022 4:05:50 PM PST by Fledermaus (I'll wear a mask when Dr. Fraudchi shuts the hell up.)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
Ya, but they waited until the 7th paragraph to note that....

I took a wild guess, given Illinois and all...

36 posted on 03/02/2022 4:12:09 PM PST by G Larry (Tolerance will rise until intelligent people are banned from thinking to avoid offending imbeciles)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Good. Should have happened years ago. The guy is a punk; always has been.


37 posted on 03/02/2022 4:28:03 PM PST by ought-six (Multiculturalism is national suicide, and political correctness is the cyanide capsule. )
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To: EC Washington

Well he was indicted, but will he be convicted? Stay tuned…..


38 posted on 03/02/2022 4:29:23 PM PST by telescope115 (Proud member of the ANTIFAuci movement. )
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To: JonPreston; MinuteGal; M Kehoe

Michael Madigan is a Democratic hack politician who as Speaker of the House ruled the IL House with an iron fist. He basically was the true Governor of IL for years. Nothing moved without Madigan’s approval.

He is another very short man with a Napoleonic complex. A little Rat. I am so delighted that he might finally, belatedly, be getting his comeuppance. His wheeling dealing, always verging on crooked days are over. Too bad they didn’t bother to nail him a lot earlier, but now is better than never.

Hope he spends his retirement rotting in jail where he won’t be able to enjoy the monetary fruits of all his crooked political past labors, as most of that money will now be in the hands of the political hack lawyers he will have to hire to try to beat the rap. Will be following his case with great interest. I escaped IL after retiring, to the free state of FL. Best move I ever made.


39 posted on 03/02/2022 4:54:46 PM PST by flaglady47 (Donald J.Trump, President in 2024 - DeSantis for VP (or Senior Advisor))
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To: flaglady47

Enjoy Florida and please keep us posted on this Rat. I share your joy in his downfall.


40 posted on 03/02/2022 4:57:00 PM PST by JonPreston (Q: Never have so many, been so wrong, so often)
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