The Center Square – The trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, facing charges of racketeering and bribery, is set to begin on Tuesday, prompting lawmakers to reflect on some of his controversial tactics.
Madigan and his co-defendant, Michael McClain, are indicted on 23 counts related to racketeering, bribery, and official misconduct.
Democratic State Rep. Kelly Cassidy shared her experience of being pressured into resigning from her job with the Cook County Sheriff’s Office in 2018 after she called for an investigation into sexual harassment claims against a Madigan aide.
My supervisor informed me that the speaker’s chief of staff had inquired about my employment status and if that was a typical practice. I said no, and she remarked that it seemed ominous, Cassidy recalled.
Later, after opposing a bill from Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart, Cassidy found herself at the center of a public controversy stirred up by Madigan’s leadership. I ultimately had to resign because of that controversy. This all happened right after I spoke out about issues within his administration, she explained.
Cassidy reflected on the tactics she encountered during the Rauner administration when Madigan’s office had allies questioning her loyalty to her values, particularly concerning Governor Bruce Rauner’s turnaround agenda. One day, as I moved through the Capitol, union members asked if I was reconsidering my position on pensions, and trial lawyers questioned my stance on workers’ compensation. I realized they were sent to confront me, she said.
She emphasized that those allies likely didn’t believe she had changed her positions; it was merely a strategy to intimidate her.
Republican State Rep. Dave Severin also spoke about his experiences with Madigan’s tactics when he first ran for the statehouse in 2016 against a Madigan ally. They did everything they could to ruin my reputation, my business, and my family’s name, he said.
Severin defeated Democrat John Bradley, whom he described as a close associate of Madigan and a significant figure in the statehouse. I quickly learned that opposing Speaker Madigan or his allies would bring his wrath upon you. I felt that even before I was elected,” he noted.
Despite their conflicts, Severin mentioned that he still prays for Madigan, reflecting on his long career and age. Life goes by quickly, and he’s older now. He will face consequences for his actions here on Earth, but there’s a bigger picture. I respect the position he held, but I cannot respect the corruption he enabled, Severin added.
Madigan, now 82, served in the Illinois House from 1971 until 2021, holding the position of speaker for all but two years between 1983 and 2021.
The trial, United States of America v. Madigan et al, is scheduled to begin with jury selection at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Everett McKinley Dirksen United States Courthouse in Chicago.