Madigan collects $158K while facing federal corruption trial in Chicago
Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan collected a pension worth $158,000 in 2024 while facing a federal corruption trial in Chicago. Depending on the verdict, taxpayers could be on the hook for another $1 million to cover his remaining benefits.
Former Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan collected a pension worth $158,027 in 2024 while facing federal trial in Chicago on 23-counts charging him with public corruption.
Depending on the verdict in Madigan’s now-closing corruption trial, Illinois taxpayers could be on the hook to pay the former House speaker another $1.06 million during his lifetime. He already received $580,811 between his retirement in 2021 through 2024.
Members of the Illinois General Assembly contribute so little to their own pensions, that Madigan got back 50 years of contributions in just 29 months. His total contributions were $352,345. His lifetime benefit is estimated at $1.65 million, depending on his longevity and whether he is convicted.
Once considered among the most powerful politicians in the country, Madigan is currently under indictment on 23 counts, including federal racketeering and bribery charges.
Prosecutors allege Madigan ran a criminal enterprise, exchanging influence on key state legislation for job opportunities for constituents and other allies. He had help from now-convicted political allies such as his codefendant, Michael McClain.
The former speaker and his longtime political operative, McClain, are accused of pressuring developers to hire Madigan’s law firm. They also are accused of conspiring with Commonwealth Edison and AT&T Illinois to provide no-work jobs for the speaker’s associates in return for legislative support in Springfield.
Court documents state Madigan netted $2.85 million in illegitimate funds from his patronage hiring scheme.
Madigan’s current corruption trial follows a more than decade-long federal investigation into the former speaker that led to at least 21 individuals and businesses facing related criminal charges.
Madigan’s allies, including McClain, his former chief of staff Tim Mapes and the “ComEd Four,” were found guilty by a federal court in 2023 in connection with Madigan’s patronage hiring scheme.
Under Illinois law, a public official convicted of a felony will only lose their pension benefits if the crime was connected to the individual’s government job. The public official’s pension payments are then suspended upon a successful conviction or guilty plea.
While Madigan maintains his innocence, the former state leader is already receiving immense personal benefits from the broken pension system he was instrumental in creating.
The former speaker’s fingerprints can be found on nearly every bill for the past 30-plus years that enhanced pension benefits, borrowed money to cover their costs or shorted contributions to the systems.
Madigan was also a delegate to the 1970 state constitutional convention that created the current pension clause. That clause prevents any pension changes that would make the system more sustainable and affordable.
The Madigan trial lasted nearly four months and is expected to be handed to the jury Jan. 29 or shortly after. The outcome will determine whether Madigan retires to a federal cell or taxpayers pay him another $1 million.