DANVILLE, IL… State Representative Brandun Schweizer (R-Danville) is pleased with the “guilty” verdicts in the high-profile federal court case against former Speaker of the House Michael J. Madigan. A jury found Madigan guilty of bribery, conspiracy, wire fraud, and other charges.
“Today, justice was served as former House Speaker Mike Madigan was found guilty of bribery conspiracy, bribery, and wire fraud in federal court,” said Rep. Schweizer. “Although these verdicts are indeed justice served, Madigan’s tainted legacy continues to have lasting effects. The House Rules that he wrote during his 40-year reign over Illinois are essentially the same rules that the majority party just approved for the 104th General Assembly.”
To stamp out public corruption, Schweizer has joined fellow House Republicans who have introduced legislation calling for ethics reforms. Some of those measures would include suspending pensions from retired lawmakers who face corruption trials from time as an elected official, stopping the “revolving door” practice of being a legislator one day and a lobbyist the next, and disallowing campaign funds for legal defense in public corruption cases.
“Even though Mike Madigan was found guilty of several crimes, the culture of corruption in this state remains very much evident. These verdicts should send a message to the leaders in our state that something has to change, and the pattern of corruption plaguing Illinois can no longer be tolerated,” concluded Rep. Schweizer.
So far, zero ethics reforms proposed by House Republicans have been called by Democratic Leadership. Now guilty of several crimes, Former Speaker Madigan awaits sentencing.
For more information, contact Rep. Schweizer’s office at (217) 477-0104 or by visiting RepSchweizer.com.
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