A fourth political ally of Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan has become the latest target of an ongoing federal investigation.

Some Illinois lawmakers supplement their income doing property tax appeals work at private law firms. A property tax relief task force that includes some of those lawmakers killed a proposal to end that conflict of interest.

Lawyers for Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan argued that even if he did recruit so-called “sham candidates” to siphon votes away from his 2016 primary opponent, such tactics aren’t against the law.

Ald. Ed Burke has long been criticized for operating a lucrative law business in the politically clouted world of Cook County property tax appeals, a world in which the speaker of the Illinois House of Representative continues to make money.

Government employees under Madigan’s watch were made to feel accountable to lobbyists, political campaign staff and other outside interests. Not the public.

Tackling Illinois corruption isn’t just a moral imperative. It’s a financial necessity.

Further details are emerging in the wake of May raids on longtime allies of Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan.

Do federal authorities have their sights set on the longest-serving state legislative leader in American history?

The raid on retired Chicago Ald. Michael Zalewski is the latest indication federal authorities could be building a case against the nation’s longest-serving speaker.

Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan faces allegations of recruiting two “sham candidates” to dilute the Hispanic vote in his 2016 Democratic primary race.