CHICAGO. Michael J. Madigan, the former Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives who has held sole power over Democratic politics in the state for decades, was indicted Wednesday on charges of federal racketeering, bribery, wire fraud and extortion.
Prosecutors said Mr. Madigan, who also led the Illinois Democratic Party, used his position in the state House of Representatives to extort bribes from ComEd, an electric utility, providing legislative services to the company in exchange for jobs and money for his political allies.
“The indictment alleges a long-term, multi-faceted scheme to exploit public office for illegal personal gain,” Northern Illinois Chief Attorney John Lausch said in a statement.
Prosecutors accused the former speaker of “for almost a decade running a criminal enterprise whose purpose was to consolidate the political power and financial well-being of Madigan, and to generate income for his political allies and associates.”
Mr. Madigan was an unusually powerful figure in Illinois politics, earning the nickname “The Velvet Hammer” for his ability to quietly make or break a career and determine which bills might become law. The allegations against him marked another chapter in a long history of allegations of corruption at the highest levels of the Illinois government.
Mr. Madigan, who left office early last year after his fellow Democrats failed to support him for another term as Speaker, cannot be immediately available for comment. Mr. Madigan, whose district was on Chicago’s southwest side, served as Speaker of the House for all but two years from 1983 to 2020.
It has long been known to be under federal scrutiny as prosecutors filed charges against ComEd and others accused of being involved in the scheme. But until Wednesday, it remained unclear whether prosecutors would gather evidence to prosecute the former speaker, who was known to be a cautious political tactician. The trial was not scheduled immediately.
When ComEd was indicted by prosecutors in 2020, before Mr. Madigan left government, his office released a statement denying wrongdoing.
“The speaker has never helped someone find a job by expecting the employer not to ask that person to do the job, and he has never expected to provide anything to a potential employer if he decides to hire the person he recommended,” the statement said. “He never made legislative decisions with wrongful motives and did not commit any wrongdoing here. Any claim to the contrary is unfounded.”