CHICAGO, IL (Chambana Today) – Federal prosecutors are recommending a 12½-year prison sentence and $1.5 million fine for former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, portraying him as a “grand master of corruption” who misused public office for private gain over the course of a decade.

The request, outlined in a detailed 72-page sentencing memo filed Friday, comes four months after a jury convicted the 83-year-old former Democratic power broker on 10 of 23 counts, including bribery and wire fraud. Prosecutors also accuse Madigan of committing perjury during his high-stakes decision to testify in his own defense — a move they say backfired and further justifies a lengthy sentence.

“Time after time, Madigan exploited his immense power for his own personal benefit,” prosecutors wrote. “He has expressed no remorse, and lied under oath in an attempt to evade accountability.”

Madigan’s convictions center on a long-running bribery scheme involving Commonwealth Edison (ComEd), which allegedly awarded no-show jobs and contracts to Madigan allies between 2011 and 2019. In exchange, prosecutors said, ComEd received favorable legislation in Springfield.

Among the evidence was a wiretapped call in which Madigan and longtime confidant Mike McClain joked that contractors “made out like bandits” for doing “very little work.” That call, initially excluded by the court, was admitted after Madigan’s testimony opened the door to rebutting his claims of ignorance.

Though the jury deadlocked on a racketeering charge and several other counts, the convictions represent one of the most significant political corruption cases in Illinois history. Madigan served 36 years as House Speaker and 23 years as chair of the state Democratic Party, making him one of the most powerful legislative leaders in U.S. history.

In a separate filing, Madigan’s attorneys asked the court for five years of probation, including one year of home detention and community service. The defense pointed to Madigan’s age, health, and role as a caretaker for his seriously ill wife, Shirley Madigan, who suffers from a severe lung condition.

“Mike keeps my mother alive,” wrote former Attorney General Lisa Madigan in a personal appeal to U.S. District Judge John Blakey.

The defense also filed more than 200 character letters from a wide array of supporters — including former Govs. Jim Edgar and the late Jim Thompson, business leaders, former aides, and religious leaders — urging leniency for a man they described as devoted to public service.

Madigan’s lawyers stressed that he is not a flight risk, will never hold public office again, and is already suffering significant public humiliation.

“He will live the rest of his years as a felon,” they wrote, adding that even “one day of imprisonment” would upend his wife’s life.

Madigan stepped down from his roles in 2021 after the federal investigation into ComEd’s lobbying practices intensified. His downfall capped a decades-long reign over Illinois politics, during which he was both feared and revered.

Prosecutors said that despite his legacy, Madigan’s crimes — and his refusal to take responsibility — demand serious consequences.

“The sentence must reflect the seriousness of his offenses and send a message that no one, regardless of their power, is above the law,” they argued.

Judge Blakey will weigh arguments from both sides on June 13 in what is expected to be one of the most closely watched sentencing hearings in Illinois political history.

Madigan’s sentencing is set for June 13.