McHenry Times

On Wednesday, former Illinois Speaker of the House Michael J. Madigan was found guilty on multiple charges including bribery conspiracy, bribery, and wire fraud. Following the verdict, State Senator Craig Wilcox (R-McHenry) expressed his views through a statement.

Senator Wilcox stated, “Justice was indeed served today in the case of the United States of America vs. Michael J. Madigan when the jury sent a clear message that public policy is not for sale in the State of Illinois.” He criticized Madigan's leadership by saying that as Speaker of the House and Chairman of the Illinois Democratic Party, Madigan "ruled over a criminal enterprise that enriched not only himself but also those loyal to him who were willing to do his bidding."

Wilcox further commented on how Madigan's actions negatively impacted Illinois residents: “While Mike Madigan and his allies benefitted financially from his criminal acts, it was the people of Illinois who were left behind due to stagnant economic growth and skyrocketing property taxes that were a direct result of his quid pro quo leadership style.”

He emphasized that this ruling marks an end to what he described as "a dark chapter in Illinois history," but acknowledged ongoing challenges. “This ruling ends a dark chapter in Illinois history, but make no mistake, there is a great deal of work that needs to be done to strengthen ethical standards for those serving in the public realm,” Wilcox stated. He called for stronger accountability measures and invited members of the General Assembly to prioritize ethics reform during this year's session.