Convicted ex-Speaker Madigan Files Appeal in Attempt to Stay Out of Prison

Michael J. Madigan, the former speaker of the Illinois House and longtime chair of the Illinois Democratic Party, has been convicted of a series of federal criminal offenses that centered on bribery, corruption, and influence-peddling. Madigan is scheduled to begin serving a 7.5-year prison sentence on October 13, 2025.

The convicted political boss continues to assert his innocence and does not want to go to prison. While standard federal criminal procedure allows a prisoner ample opportunities to consult with counsel and continue his or her criminal appeal while incarcerated, the Speaker asserts that he deserves more. Madigan asked the federal judge with jurisdiction over his case to stay his October 13 prison reporting date, but on August 8, the judge denied his request.

Madigan is making another attempt to stay out of prison.

Madigan filed a motion Thursday asking the Seventh Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals to stay his surrender date, pending appeal of his conviction on 10 counts of corruption earlier this year.

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