Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan Sentenced to 7.5 Years in Prison and Fined $2.5M After Corruption Case

Michael Madigan, a former Illinois House speaker, was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison on June 13 for corruptly soliciting and receiving personal financial rewards for himself and his associates.

The 83-year-old politician — who served in the Illinois House of Representatives from 1971 to 2021, and was convicted in February of conspiracy, bribery and wire fraud following a four-month trial — must also pay a fine of $2.5 million, U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey ruled.

“I’m truly sorry for putting the people of the state of Illinois through this,” Madigan said ahead of his sentencing, per the Associated Press. “I tried to do my best to serve the people of the state of Illinois. I am not perfect.”

Madigan is the longest-serving legislative leader in U.S. history.

In February, Madigan was convicted on 10 of 23 counts of corruption after evidence at the trial revealed he conspired with others to cause the utility company Commonwealth Edison to “make monetary payments” to his associates and reward them for loyalty “in return for performing little or no legitimate work for the business,” the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois stated in a news release.

Madigan was previously acquitted on seven charges as the jury deadlocked on six.

The politician also schemed with an alderman of the Chicago City Council to “steer legal work to Madigan’s private law firm and Madigan’s son” in exchange for Madigan’s assistance in getting the official appointed to a compensated state board position, per the court.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

In addition, Madigan “perjured himself repeatedly” during the trial, the court said. Per the Associated Press, Blakey described Madigan taking the stand in his own defense as “a nauseating display of perjury and evasion.”

“You lied. You did not have to. You had a right to sit there and exercise your right to silence,” Blakey said. “But you took the stand and you took the law into your own hands.”

Related Stories

George Santos, Disgraced Congressman Turned Cameo Star, Sentenced to More than 7 Years in Prison for Fraud

George Santos Sobs into His Hands as Judge Reads Harsh Prison Sentence, Calls Him ‘Arrogant Fraudster’

Madigan’s defense attorneys requested a sentence of five years’ probation for their client, per the AP and The Hill, stating that his wife Shirley Madigan — who submitted a video to the court — would benefit from his care. The judge, however, shared that federal sentencing guidelines allowed for a sentencing of 105 years, per the AP.

During Madigan’s sentencing, the judge revealed that numerous people submitted letters addressing Madigan’s character. “Being great is hard,” he added. “Being honest is not. It’s hard to commit crimes. It actually takes effort.”

Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Streicker said that the politician “had every opportunity to set the standard for honest government,” yet “fit right into the mold of yet another corrupt leader in Illinois.”

U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois Andrew Boutros, one of three people who announced the sentencing this week, said in a statement that the trial sent a “clear message that the criminal conduct by former Speaker Madigan was unacceptable.”

“I couldn’t be prouder of the strong commitment of our law enforcement partners at the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation,” Boutros continued. “Our Office and our partners remain steadfast in our commitment to vigorously prosecute corruption at all levels of government and hold public officials accountable for violating the public trust.”

According to the Chicago-Sun Times, Madigan is due in prison on Oct. 13.