Madigan’s 2016 primary opponent filed a lawsuit alleging the House speaker recruited “sham” candidates in order to dilute opposition.

What’s important for Illinoisans to know now is not just whether politically powerful people such as Burke and Madigan broke the law, but how the law itself encourages indecent behavior.

Madigan has long been criticized for his control of a lucrative law firm specializing in Cook County property tax appeals.

A federal corruption charge against Chicago Ald. Ed Burke has led peers to hand control of the $100 million-a-year workers’ compensation program to the city finance department. Burke, who had overseen the program for decades, fought program oversight and staffed it with political allies.