Chicago ex-alderman charged with bribery might keep pension

By Ann Miller, Justin Carlson

04/22/2022

Ex-Alderman Danny Solis handed federal prosecutors the top politicians in Chicago and the Statehouse to get out of bribery charges. His deal could let him keep his pension – a ploy too common in Illinois as voters consider Amendment 1’s potential for protecting pension abuse.

TAGS: Chicago, corruption, Danny Solis, pensions

4 of Illinois’ past 10 governors went to prison

By Hannah Max

04/11/2022

Four of the past 10 former Illinois governors are among the public officials who have been convicted of offenses in Illinois. The state needs stricter ethics reforms to change its culture of corruption.

TAGS: corruption, governors, Illinois, prison

Illinois House bill would jeopardize Madigan’s $151K pension

By Dylan Sharkey

04/04/2022

A new bill in the Illinois House calls for suspending the pensions for legislators facing corruption charges. Former House Speaker Michael Madigan, recently indicted for racketeering and bribery, is set to collect $12,600 per month starting in July.

TAGS: corruption, Mike Madigan, pensions

Madigan pleads ‘not guilty’ to 22-count corruption indictment

By Dylan Sharkey

03/10/2022

Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan entered a “not guilty” plea to federal racketeering and bribery charges March 9.

TAGS: corruption, federal investigation, Mike Madigan

Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan indicted for federal racketeering

By Dylan Sharkey

03/02/2022

Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan has been indicted for racketeering and bribery in a federal corruption probe spanning more than two years.

TAGS: corruption, federal investigation, Mike Madigan

Politicians convicted of corruption can run for re-election under Illinois law

By Dylan Sharkey

02/28/2022

After a corrupt politician gets caught in Illinois, they can again run for office. State Rep. Curtis Tarver II has introduced a bill to stop that.

TAGS: corruption, election, Illinois

Chicago alderman from Daley family implicated in bank embezzlement

By Patrick Andriesen

01/19/2022

Chicago Ald. Patrick Daley Thompson was implicated in the plea agreement of a former bank employee who federal prosecutors said played a critical role in the embezzlement scheme. She said millions in theft was covered up before the bank failed.

TAGS: Chicago City Council, corruption, embezzlement, Patrick Daley Thompson

Secret footage of Chicago alderman detailed in corruption probe

By Patrick Andriesen

01/18/2022

Chicago Ald. Edward Burke was secretly videotaped in City Hall by federal authorities as part of the corruption probe into Illinois politics. Burke reportedly confided in an informant how they would avoid being caught.

TAGS: Chicago City Council, corruption, Ed Burke

Amendment 1 could make it harder to root out corruption in Illinois

By Joe Tabor

11/08/2021

With additional protection in the Illinois Constitution, state employees and even public officials could be shielded from discipline and corruption reforms thwarted.

TAGS: Amendment 1, corruption, government unions, Illinois

Former Illinois House leader pleads guilty to bribery

By Dylan Sharkey

11/04/2021

A former Illinois House leader pleaded guilty to accepting bribes and then offering bribes to a state senator in an effort to push gambling legislation.

TAGS: bribery, ComEd, corruption, federal investigation, Luis Arroyo