By ANDREW ADAMS
and HANNAH MEISEL
Capitol News Illinois
[email protected]
[email protected] 

“The Velvet Hammer.” “Sphinx.” “King of Illinois.” “The Wizard of Oz.” “The Real Governor of Illinois.” “Himself.” 

Michael Madigan was called all of these names and more during his five-decade career in public office. During that time, he became one of the most powerful men in Illinois history. 

He holds the record for the longest-serving legislative leader in any state or Congress, earned a national reputation for reshaping state and national politics by drawing and redrawing Illinois’ legislative maps, and personally oversaw every major piece of legislation in Illinois for almost forty years. 

Now, he faces accusations of running a yearslong racketeering ring involving multiple bribery schemes. Federal prosecutors allege he used his position to bolster his own power in addition to enriching himself and his allies through job recommendations and no-work contracts at companies seeking to curry his favor. But he denies any wrongdoing. A jury now holds his fate in its hands. 

Who is Madigan? How did he amass his power? What did he accomplish at the highest levels of state politics and government over his years in office? 

Born

April 19, 1942

Madigan grows up in Marquette Park, he attends St. Adrian Catholic School and St. Ignatius High School. He will live in Chicago’s 13th Ward on the Southwest Side for the rest of his life.

A political family

1950s and 60s

Madigan’s father, also named Michael, is a precinct captain in Chicago’s 13th Ward and the ward superintendent for the city’s sanitation department. Through his father, Madigan gets jobs working for the city and makes connections with the 13th Ward Committeeman and Cook County Clerk Michael J. Flynn as well as legendary Mayor Richard J. Daley and his son, the future Mayor Richard M. Daley. Madigan would later becomeDemocratic committeeman for the 13th Ward, an important step in building his political empire.

Graduates University of Notre Dame

1964

“There was never any question in the house,” Madigan says years later about his upbringing. “That’s where I was gonna go.”

Madigan meets Mayor Daley

1965

Chicago Tribune reporter Ray Long notes in his biography of Madigan that “To Michael J. Madigan, there are few political figures who stand as tall as Richard J. Daley.” The longtime mayor of Chicago and last boss of the legendary Chicago political machine, mentors Madigan early in his career.

Michael Madigan Sr. dies

October 1966

Madigan is 24 when his father dies following a series of heart attacks. According to Madigan’s trial testimony, his father is an alcoholic who “quit drinking but he carried an anger problem.” Madigan’s parents display little affection.

Graduates Loyola University Chicago School of Law

1967

Mayor Daley hires the young Madigan to work in the city’s law department during and after graduating law school.

Madigan elected to Constitutional Convention

1969

Winning his first election, Madigan is selected as a delegate to the state’s 1970 Constitutional Convention, which creates the first new state constitution in more than a century. The campaigns leading up to the convention led to a series of court orders in the 1970s and early ‘80s banning political patronage in the city.

Madigan selected as 13th Ward Committeeman

1969

Madigan is selected by local precinct captains as Chicago’s 13th Ward Committeeman, a role he will hold onto for more than five decades. For much of that time, the 13th Ward’s Democratic political organization served as the backbone of Madigan’s political machine.

Elected to the Illinois House

Nov. 3, 1970

Madigan’s 50-year career in the Illinois House of Representatives begins with an easy election win.

Founded Madigan & Getzendanner law firm

1972

Madigan’s law firm, led by himself and Loyola law school classmate Vincent “Bud” Getzendanner, starts as a general law practice but within a few years begins specializing in property tax appeals. Throughout its history, the firm represents some of the most highly valued buildings in Chicago.

Mike McClain takes office in the House

June 15, 1972

Mike McClain replaces his father Elmo “Mac” McClain in the Illinois House after the elder McClain collapses on the House floor just after voting on the Equal Rights Amendment. McClain’s father died of a heart attack that afternoon. He and Madigan, both young legislators, will become friends and rely on each other politically. Throughout their decade in office together, they often sit just a few seats apart on the House floor.

Starting a family

1976

Madigan meets Shirley Murray while she works at another Chicago law firm, and they marry after just a few months of dating in 1976. Murray had a daughter, Lisa, from a previous marriage, whom Madigan adopts. Madigan understands the marriage as a “duo package,” according to testimony at his later trial. The couple goes on to have three more children: Tiffany, Nicole and Andrew. Also in 1976, Gov. Dan Walker appoints Shirley to the Illinois Arts Council. She later chairs the state agency’s board from 1983 to 2022.

Madigan elected House Majority Leader

Jan. 12, 1977

At the outset of his fourth term in the House, Madigan is named Majority Leader, the second-highest-ranking member of the Democratic caucus.

The ‘Cutback Amendment’ passes

Nov. 4, 1980

Voters in 1980 approve the “Cutback Amendment,” which reduces the size of the Illinois House from 177 members to 118 beginning with the 1982 election and abolishes “cumulative voting,” which guaranteed bipartisan representation in each House district. Madigan, speaking at the inauguration of the first House of Representatives post-amendment, says it is a “new era.”

Madigan draws his first maps

June 18, 1981

Following the 1980 Census, lawmakers embark on drawing new legislative districts. Future GOP Gov. George Ryan is Speaker of the House. During a contentious debate, as Ryan attempts to approve maps that favored Republicans, Democrats “stormed the podium,” per a United Press International report. After breaking for caucus, Democrats return to the floor to find armed Capitol police guarding the podium — a move that Madigan compares to “Nazi Germany and dictatorial regimes.” That measure ultimately fails, sending it to a redistricting commission that adopts maps drawn by Madigan. This was the first time the future speaker oversaw redistricting—which becomes the bedrock of his grip on power.

McClain loses reelection

Nov. 2, 1982

McClain loses his House seat in the election cycle following the 1980 Cutback Amendment. The loss spurs his decadeslong lobbying career and marks a new chapter in his friendship with Madigan, with whom he would still strategize up until the feds’ investigation became public. McClain eventually becomes known to work out of the speaker’s Capitol office suite while in Springfield.

Madigan elected speaker

Jan. 12, 1983

Madigan is first elected House speaker in 1983, unanimously chosen by his House colleagues. At the time, he outlines his top priorities.  “Crime has not decreased,” Madigan says in his first speech as speaker. “We still have not funded education in our state. We still have not properly funded an adequate transportation system for downstate and for upstate. So as we begin this new era, we can look upon the same problems that we attempted to solve in the last era.”

Madigan backs transparency reform

May 5, 1983

In one of his first acts as speaker, Madigan backs a proposal to create the Freedom of Information Act. Initially opposed to the proposal to make government records more accessible, he would later reflect on the law in the statement announcing his resignation.

Madigan stops time

June 1988

After White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf threatens to move the South Side baseball team to Florida, Madigan and then-Gov. Jim Thompson push through more than $200 million in funding for a new Comiskey Park. But the two men don’t secure the votes until after a midnight deadline which would have raised the requirement from a simple majority vote to three-fifths. So Madigan “declared” that the vote happened a few minutes earlier, with some alleging that the speaker literally has the clocks of the House chamber stopped a few minutes before midnight.

“Operation Cobra”

May 17, 1989

In the late 1980s, Gov. Thompson pushes for an increase to the state’s income tax — an effort Madigan rebuffs. But after seeing the condition of dilapidated schools in Effingham and allegedly cutting a deal with Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, Madigan reverses course. In a secret operation, Madigan pushes through an 18% income tax hike in six hours, using only Democratic votes.  “It is bold. It’s audacious. And it might even be diabolical,” Thompson says at the time.

Redistricting after the 1990 Census

1991-1992

When Democrats control both the Illinois House and Senate in 1991, they pass legislative maps that are then vetoed by the Republican governor. Without maps, a redistricting commission is appointed and eventually deadlocks. When state officials randomly select the tie-breaking vote, Republicans win, marking the one time in Madigan’s career as speaker that he doesn’t control the legislative map-making process.

Madigan in the minority

Jan. 8, 1995

The only interruption to Madigan’s nearly four decades as Speaker comes in 1994, amid the so-called “Republican Revolution” of that year’s midterm elections. Led by Newt Gingrich, soon to take over as speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Republicans across the country pick up seats in Congress and in statehouses. Madigan is succeeded as speaker in 1995 by Lee Daniels, who had served as the minority leader for Madigan’s entire time leading the House.  “Mr. Speaker, congratulations. I wish you the best of luck,” Madigan tells Daniels in 1995. “I feel that over my 12 years as Speaker, that you and I were very worthy adversaries when we should have been adversaries.”

Madigan regains speakership

Jan. 8, 1997

After a ferocious devotion to recruiting candidates and backing campaigns for six competitive races in Chicago’s south suburbs, Madigan receives credit for retaking the Illinois House, positioning him to retake the speakership. He remains speaker until 2021. Former 13th Ward precinct captain Ed Moody claims credit years later for helping Democrat Kevin McCarthy come from “nine or 10 or 11 points behind” and win by approximately 50 points.  “He was it. He was number 60. We had the majority,” Moody says of McCarthy’s impact on Democrats retaking the House. McCarthy would go on to sponsor the 2011 “Smart Grid” bill, which, according to the feds, was the first law passed due to ComEd’s alleged bribery.

Madigan takes over as Democratic Party chairman

April 3, 1998

Coming off a political victory in the 1996 elections, party insiders elevate Madigan to chair the state’s Democratic Party. He replaces Gary LaPaille, who was Madigan’s former chief of staff and a close ally. Madigan remains in this post for more than 20 years, using it as a key lever to exert influence on Democratic campaigns.

Lisa Madigan wins a senate seat

Nov. 3, 1998

Madigan’s adopted daughter Lisa runs unopposed in the general election for a state Senate seat. She won her primary election with 66% of the vote. In the Senate, Lisa Madigan is seatmates with then-state Sen. Barack Obama and their offices are next to each other.

Redistricting after the 2000 Census

2001

Lawmakers fail to pass a redistricting plan in 2001, thanks to a deadlock between Madigan’s Democrat-controlled House and the Republican-controlled Senate under James “Pate” Philip. When a random selection gives Democrats the tie-breaking vote on the appointed redistricting commission, Madigan is again empowered to draw the legislative maps.

Lisa Madigan elected Attorney General

Nov. 5, 2002

During her first term in the Illinois Senate, Lisa Madigan runs for state attorney general, winning with the support of her father — the subject of some controversy. The first woman to hold the position, she stays in that office until 2019.

Madigan feuds with Democratic leaders

2003-2009

In the first election using freshly drawn legislative maps, Democrats win control of both legislative chambers and the governor’s mansion. But Madigan often butts heads with then Gov. Rod Blagojevich and Senate President Emil Jones Jr. Both men accuse Madigan of being too conservative, with Blagojevich calling Madigan a “George Bush Republican” after he opposes a capital spending bill, according to an Associated Press report.

Blagojevich impeached

Jan. 9, 2009

One month to the day after federal agents arrest then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich at his Chicago home on corruption charges, Madigan presides over the first and so far only impeachment of a sitting Illinois governor. Not speaking during debate, he only calls on house members to speak, eventually closing the 114-1 vote with the words: “Governor Blagojevich is hereby impeached.” Blagojevich is formally removed from office later that month.

University of Illinois clout admissions scandal

Summer 2009

Sparked by a Chicago Tribune investigation, Madigan is one of several lawmakers implicated in the University of Illinois’ “Category I” scandal, which revealed admissions staff accepted sub-par applicants if they had the “sponsorship” of influential state politicians. Madigan refuses to speak to the commission appointed by then-Gov. Pat Quinn to investigate the matter.

Redistricting after the 2010 Census

Spring 2011

For the first time since the redistricting process was reformed at the 1970 Constitutional Convention, a single party controls both legislative chambers and the governor’s mansion during redistricting. New Democrat-drawn maps pass easily through the General Assembly and onto Gov. Pat Quinn’s desk, cementing Madigan’s reputation among allies as a master mapmaker and among critics as a master of gerrymandering.

First alleged no-work contract

Aug. 2011

Newly retired Chicago Ald. Frank Olivo of Madigan’s 13th Ward begins his arrangement with longtime city lobbyist Jay Doherty, who expanded his existing contract with electric utility Commonwealth Edison in order to pay Olivo $4,000 each month. That arrangement continues until FBI agents raid Olivo’s and Doherty’s home and offices in May 2019. Prosecutors later allege Olivo’s arrangement was the first of many bribes ComEd offered to Madigan in the form of jobs and contracts for his allies.

Reyes Kurson inks ComEd contract

Oct. 25, 2011

Democratic fundraiser and Madigan ally Victor Reyes’ law firm contracts with ComEd for legal work. Prosecutors allege the arrangement is part of an overall bribe to Madigan ahead of an override vote on Smart Grid legislation, pointing to McClain’s interest in the contract. ComEd’s top lawyer later says the utility’s CEO at the time had directed him to look into Reyes Kurson earlier in the year.

Madigan allegedly supports ComEd in exchange for “stream of benefits”

2011-2018

Madigan allegedly supports ComEd on several legislative initiatives as part of a wide ranging bribery scheme throughout the 2010s. Those initiatives include a 2011 “Smart Grid” law which lays out a new formula-based process for setting electricity rates in Illinois. The House overrides a gubernatorial veto with Madigan’s support. The bill is allegedly worth “hundreds of millions of dollars” to ComEd. Other bills in this alleged corruption scheme include a 2013 law which aimed at strengthening the policy laid out in the original “Smart Grid” law and a broad package of energy reform known as the Future Energy Jobs Act in 2016, which prevented the closure of multiple nuclear plants in Illinois. In 2018, Madigan allegedly blocks a bill that was backed by his daughter, then-Attorney General Lisa Madigan, though defense witnesses testified the bill didn’t have the support it needed to pass until a year later.

Second alleged no-work contract

Feb. 2012

Longtime 13th Ward precinct captain Ray Nice begins receiving $5,000 monthly checks from Doherty, funded by an expansion of the lobbyist’s contract with ComEd.

Third alleged no-work contract

April 2012

Former 13th Ward precinct captain Ed Moody, a longtime volunteer for Madigan’s political operation, begins a $4,500 per month arrangement with McClain, funded by an expansion of the lobbyist’s longtime contract with ComEd. Moody asks Madigan for help landing a side job and according to Moody’s testimony at trial, after an emotional confrontation, the speaker tells him, “This is how I reward my good soldiers.” Through the next 6 ½ years, Moody is passed around to three other external ComEd lobbyists — including Jay Doherty — until he becomes Cook County Recorder of Deeds in late 2018.

Metra patronage scandal

2013

As Alex Clifford, the then-CEO of commuter rail operator Metra, is being ousted from his post, he alleges Madigan used political clout to push for a raise for one employee and for another person to be hired. The situation eventually leads to an investigation by the Legislative Inspector General, which clears Madigan of wrongdoing. The Chicago Tribune obtains a leaked copy of the final report, which found that Madigan exacerbated an “unhealthy situation” created by his and his allies’ requests. The scandal eventually leads to reforms at Metra and five board members resigning, including its chairman.

Lisa Madigan doesn’t run for governor, citing father

July 15, 2013

After a decade in office, Lisa Madigan’s name is floated to potentially run for governor in 2014. She eventually settles the matter with a statement saying she considered running due to widespread “frustration” over the Quinn administration but ultimately pointed to “another consideration” stopping her from running.  “I feel strongly that the state would not be well served by having a governor and speaker of the House from the same family and have never planned to run for governor if that would be the case,” she says. “With Speaker Madigan planning to continue in office, I will not run for governor.”

Madigan secretly taped by FBI mole

Aug. 18, 2014

Real estate developer-turned-FBI cooperator See Wong secretly videotapes a meeting in Madigan’s downtown Chicago law office that was arranged by Ald. Danny Solis, the influential chair of the city council’s zoning board. Madigan & Getzendanner don’t end up taking on the client, but it bolsters the FBI’s case to begin wiretapping Solis the next month, which would continue on and off for nearly two years.

Clash with Rauner leads to budget crisis

2013-2017

Republican businessman Bruce Rauner spends more than 1 ½ years and millions of his own dollars on a gubernatorial campaign that vilifies Madigan and some of his biggest allies. Though Illinois Republicans had tried to paint Madigan as corrupt for years, Rauner’s substantial self-funding marks the beginning of a new era of public awareness of Madigan among Illinoisans.As Madigan’s public profile rises, he locks into a very public battle with Rauner, resulting in a two-year budget impasse during which the state goes without an official spending plan. The impasse has far-reaching effects, devastating social services and tanking the state’s credit rating. In July 2017, when 15 House Republicans cross party lines to override Rauner’s veto on a budget and income tax hike deal, Madigan says there is work to be done to “heal the wounds” of the past few years.

Acevedo gets no-work contract with AT&T

April 27, 2017

Newly retired Democratic state Rep. Eddie Acevedo is offered a nine-month consulting contract under AT&T Illinois external lobbyist — and former Madigan staffer — Tom Cullen. The meeting comes more than two months after McClain emailed a member of AT&T’s internal lobbying team asking if the company had the budget for “even a small contract for Eddie Acevedo.” While Acevedo initially balks at the $2,500-per-month offer, he accepts the next day. Prosecutors allege the contract is meant as a bribe for Madigan to grease the wheels for the passage of a law that would allow the company to eventually stop maintaining aging landlines.  Acevedo also has an alleged no-work consulting contract indirectly with ComEd during 2017. He and his two sons are indicted on tax evasion charges in 2021 and all three serve short prison sentences after guilty pleas and a jury conviction for Alex Acevedo. The tax evasion charges stem from the federal probe into the no-work contracts for Madigan allies.

Madigan calls Solis

Summer 2017

After nearly two years of the FBI wiretapping his cell phone and discovering evidence of corruption, Chicago Ald. Danny Solis agrees to begin cooperating with the government in June 2016. That includes secretly videotaping his colleague Ald. Ed Burke, who is ultimately convicted in his own federal corruption trial in Dec. 2023. In June 2017, Solis returns an out-of-the-blue call from Madigan in which the speaker said he’d like to know the developers of an apartment complex in Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood. An FBI agent overseeing the feds’ ongoing criminal probe testifies years later that the investigation shifted to Madigan after that call. At a meeting several weeks later the speaker says Solis “shouldn’t be talking like that” when the alderman insinuates Madigan was seeking a “quid pro quo.”

Madigan shepherds law favored by AT&T

July 1, 2017

A telecommunications reform bill containing a provision long-sought by AT&T passes with Madigan’s blessing. This bill later becomes a central part of the case against Paul La Schiazza, the then-AT&T executive accused of bribing Madigan.

Madigan, McClain help Solis with Chinatown land transfer

July 2017-Nov. 2018

Under the direction of FBI agents, Solis asks Madigan for guidance on a proposed development in Chicago’s Chinatown neighborhood on land owned by the state of Illinois. Eventually, McClain gets involved in the legislative effort to have the land transferred to the city where it can then be sold to a developer. Prosecutors later allege Madigan has a profit motive and wants the developers as clients for his property tax appeals law firm. Madigan’s law partner later testifies at trial that the practice’s strict conflict-of-interest policy would have prevented that from happening. After hitting roadblock after roadblock, the effort eventually fizzles out in late 2018.

Push for Juan Ochoa’s appointment begins

Nov. 2017

As part of his bid for appointment to ComEd’s board, influential businessman Juan Ochoa meets with Madigan to ask for his support, joined by mutual ally U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez. Within minutes of Ochoa sending his resume to Madigan’s secretary, she forwards it to ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore..

Alaina Hampton accuses Madigan ally of harassment

Feb. 13, 2018

Alaina Hampton, a former campaign worker in Madigan’s political organization, goes public with allegations that the 13th Ward Democratic Organization — and later Madigan himself — mishandled her sexual harassment complaint against Kevin Quinn, a ward office staffer and brother of 13th Ward Ald. Marty Quinn. Madigan moves quickly to oust Kevin Quinn from his organization. Mike McClain later arranges monthly checks for Quinn from a handful of lobbyists close to Madigan, though the speaker says he’d “oughta stay out of it” in an Aug. 2018 wiretapped call.

Madigan ousts chief of staff

Early June 2018

Madigan fires Tim Mapes — who held roles as Madigan’s longtime chief of staff, the clerk of the House of Representatives and director of the Democratic Party of Illinois — after Mapes is accused of sexual harassment and bullying. Madigan allies begin coordinating outreach to crisis communications firms to help “save the speaker.”An investigation into the situation later describes a culture of bullying and harassment in the speaker’s office, led by Mapes. It also finds that the speaker and his allies retaliated against Rep. Kelly Cassidy for speaking out against Madigan’s office’s handling of sexual assault allegations.

Solis asks for a state board position

June 2018

Chicago alderman-turned-FBI mole Danny Solis secretly records himself asking Madigan for help getting appointed to a lucrative state board position after he leaves office. In continued conversations about the board seat, Solis repeatedly says he’d keep directing clients to Madigan’s law firm, which prosecutors later use as a basis for several bribery counts against Madigan. At trial, Solis says the request was made at the FBI’s direction and he had no interest in a board seat.

Fourth alleged no-work contract

Aug. 2018

Newly retired Chicago Ald. Mike R. Zalewski begins receiving monthly checks from ComEd city lobbyist Jay Doherty. Prosecutors allege this final subcontractor is also part of the “stream of benefits” ComEd showers on Madigan in exchange for “official action” on bills pushed for or opposed by the utility.

FBI begins wiretapping McClain’s cell phone

April 2018

The FBI wiretaps McClain’s cell phone for a total of nine months between April 2018 and March 2019. In intercepted calls, McClain describes himself as an “agent” of Madigan and talks to the speaker himself, along with many others. In a Feb. 2019 call, McClain offers advice to a Madigan staffer, saying: “Your client is Mike Madigan. It’s not the Democratic Party… it’s not anybody that hired you, it’s not your mom and dad. The only person you care about is Mike Madigan.”

Feds raid Madigan allies’ homes

May 14, 2019

Roughly 100 FBI agents execute coordinated searches on the homes and an office of at least eight Madigan allies. The raids include Mike McClain’s home in Quincy, Jay Doherty’s home and downtown Chicago office, several ComEd subcontractors and the home of Kevin Quinn.

FBI investigation details leak

June-Dec. 2019

News of the May 2019 FBI raids on Madigan allies begin leaking to the press in the summer of 2019, which continued intermittently through the rest of the year. In September, agents carry out very public raids on another set of political figures, including Democratic state Sen. Marty Sandoval’s Capitol Office. Madigan’s name showed up on subpoenas, among other items of interest.

“I’m not the target of anything”

Oct. 29, 2019

As pressure mounts due to the ongoing FBI probe into ComEd, Madigan denies being the target of the investigation.

Madigan becomes “Public Official A” in bribery scheme

July 17, 2020

In a deferred prosecution agreement, utility giant Commonwealth Edison admits to attempting to influence “Public Official A” from 2011 to 2019. While not identified, that public official is described as “the Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives and the longest serving member of the House of Representatives.” Following the news, Gov. JB Pritzker says if the accusations were true “he’s gonna have to resign.” ComEd agrees to pay $200 million as part of the deal.The same day, Madigan’s state offices are compelled to produce any documents relating to ComEd, its parent company Exelon, AT&T Illinois, Walgreens, Rush University Medical Center, former Chicago Ald. Daniel Solis, Mike McClain, a parking lot in Chicago’s Chinatown neighborhood and any documents relating to hiring recommendations for at least five Madigan allies.

House forms special committee to investigate Madigan

Sept. 2020

In light of Madigan’s alleged involvement in a bribery scheme with ComEd, the House forms a special committee to investigate the speaker. Top Madigan ally Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch leads the committee, which dissolved three months later. Welch calls the entire process a “stunt” initiated by Republicans.

‘ComEd four’ indicted

Nov. 18, 2020

Mike McClain, former ComEd CEO Anne Prammaggiore, former ComEd vice president John Hooker, and former ComEd lobbyist Jay Doherty are indicted for bribery and falsifying records relating to a scheme to influence Madigan.

Madigan suspends speaker reelection campaign

Jan. 11, 2021

During a grueling lame duck session in Springfield, made more difficult due to COVID-era social distancing conventions, Madigan announces he will suspend his campaign to remain speaker after an internal caucus vote showed him nine votes short of a majority. Opposition to Madigan serving a 19th term as speaker had been growing since the feds announced ComEd’s DPA in the summer and was boosted by the ComEd Four indictments in November. COVID also means most House members had not seen Madigan since a brief session in May 2020, as the traditional fall veto session was also canceled.

Madigan passes speaker’s gavel

Jan. 13, 2021

Emanuel “Chris” Welch becomes the state’s first Black Speaker of the House. Welch, who’d supported Madigan as part of the Black Caucus’ commitment to him, becomes the consensus candidate after other Madigan challengers drop out of the race. Welch’s ascension coincides with the 50th anniversary of Madigan first taking the oath of office as a state representative.

Madigan resigns House seat

Feb. 18, 2021

“I leave office at peace with my decision and proud of the many contributions I’ve made to the state of Illinois, and I do so knowing I’ve made a difference,” Madigan says in a statement announcing his resignation. In his farewell statement, he says he is “particularly proud” of increasing the diversity of the House Democratic caucus. Madigan also reflects on other parts of his career: strengthening workers’ rights, raising the minimum wage, school funding reform, strengthening the state’s ethics and campaign finance laws, legalizing same sex marriage, criminal justice reforms, expanding voting rights, keeping the White Sox in Chicago and impeaching Rod Blagojevich among others.

Madigan resigns state party chair

Feb. 22, 2021

After more than two decades, Madigan steps down as head of the Democratic Party of Illinois, which he used as a key lever of power. But he remains a member of the party’s State Central Committee until the June 2022 primary election, when voters choose new committeepeople.

Madigan chief of staff indicted

May 26, 2021

Madigan’s longtime chief of staff Tim Mapes is indicted for lying under oath to a federal grand jury as part of the investigation into his former boss. After Mapes was publicly accused of sexual harassment in June 2018, Madigan asks for his resignation from his three roles, which also included executive director of the state Democratic Party and clerk of the Illinois House.

Madigan indicted along with McClain

March 2, 2022

A federal grand jury in Chicago indicts Madigan on 22 counts of racketeering, bribery, extortion and wire fraud. The 106-page indictment outlines a nearly decadelong scheme in which Madian allegedly uses his position to enhance his political power and financial well-being while also generating income for his political allies. Mike McClain is also indicted as a co-defendant on several of the charges. An additional count is added later that year. Both Madigan and McClain plead not guilty a week later.

Madigan leaves his law firm

March 2022

Over almost 50 years, Madigan & Getzendanner built a reputation for providing property tax appeals to the state’s powerful. In September 2023, the firm is renamed to Holland Hicks Law.

AT&T exec charged with bribing Madigan

Oct. 14, 2022

AT&T Illinois executive Paul La Schiazza is indicted for attempting to influence Madigan to support particular legislation by providing former Democratic state Rep. Eddie Acevedo with a no-work consulting contract. The company, meanwhile, agrees to pay a $23 million fine as part of a deferred prosecution agreement similar to ComEd’s.

ComEd Four convicted

May 2, 2023

After a seven-week trial, McClain is convicted along with three other ex-ComEd lobbyists and executives for their roles in bribing Madigan. But their scheduled January 2024 sentencing hearings are delayed until after a Supreme Court ruling clarified federal bribery statutes. The four remain unsentenced while they seek a retrial in light of that decision.

Madigan gives up ward boss role

March 2024

In late 2023, 13th Ward Ald. Marty Quinn, a longtime Madigan ally, begins circulating petitions to take over the 13th Ward Committeeman role at the 2024 primary. Madigan retains the position through the March 2024 election, but the decision not to run ends Madigan’s five-decade career in elected office.

Mapes convicted of perjury, attempted obstruction of justice

Aug. 25, 2023

After a three-week trial, a jury convicts Tim Mapes on charges of perjury and attempted obstruction of justice. Mapes is currently serving 30 months in federal prison for lying to a grand jury

Jury deadlocks in trial of former AT&T exect

Sep. 19, 2024

The trial of former AT&T Illinois president Paul La Schiazza ends in a mistrial after a jury deadlocks on whether the executive bribed Madigan for the 2017 passage of a major law the telecom giant had lobbied for. Later, the judge declines to acquit him and schedules a retrial for June 2025.

Madigan’s corruption trial begins

Oct. 21, 2024

After two weeks of jury selection, opening statements kick off Madigan’s federal corruption trial in Chicago. Despite estimates the trial would end before the holidays, closing arguments won’t wrap up until Jan. 29 The jury hears from more than 60 witnesses, including FBI cooperators Fidel Marquez, who also testified against his former ComEd colleagues in the 2023 trial and ex-Chicago Ald. Danny Solis. Both men secretly videotaped McClain and Madigan. In addition to seeing those tapes, the jury hears more than 100 wiretapped phone calls and saw hundreds of emails and other documents. Most stunningly, Madigan himself takes the witness stand in his own defense in early January, opening him up to blistering cross-examination.

Madigan jury begins deliberating

Jan. 29, 2025

Eight women and four men are tasked with deciding the fate of the nation’s longest serving statehouse leader.

Madigan is found guilty

Feb. 12, 2025

Madigan is convicted of 10 of the 23 charges against him, including three bribery counts related to ComEd providing no-work contracts to his allies and promising to help get Chicago alderman-turned-FBI-mole Danny Solis a lucrative state board position. Madigan is acquitted of seven counts and the jury deadlocks on six others. The jury also deadlocks on those same six charges as they pertain to Mike McClain.
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