Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan received a substantial federal prison sentence on Friday after being found guilty in a wide-ranging corruption case. Madigan, aged 83, was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison and required to pay a fine of $2.5 million following his conviction for trading legislation to benefit his friends and political associates. U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey imposed the sentence on the veteran Illinois political figure, who is recognized as the longest-serving legislative leader in U.S. history, during proceedings at the U.S. District Court in Chicago. Known as the “Velvet Hammer” for his...
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