Jury selection recently began in the long-awaited trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, who now faces 23 counts of racketeering, bribery, and official misconduct charges.  

The former Speaker, who was once one of the most influential political figures in Illinois, was indicted in March 2022 with charges stemming from Madigan’s alleged involvement in a years-long bribery scheme with the state’s largest utility, Commonwealth Edison (ComEd).

Madigan, who served in the Illinois House from 1971 until his resignation in 2021, held the speakership for much of his tenure and was also the chairman of the Democratic Party of Illinois.

As Madigan’s trial begins, Senate Republicans are once again highlighting the need for sweeping ethics reforms to prevent future abuses of power. Republican lawmakers have introduced several bills aimed at closing loopholes and increasing accountability for public officials, including stronger revolving door prohibitions, banning elected officials from working as paid lobbyists, and campaign finance reforms.

With Veto Session scheduled to take place in November, Republican lawmakers are urging immediate action, arguing that without substantive ethics reforms, the state remains vulnerable to further corruption at the highest levels of government.