On October 13, disgraced former Speaker of the House, Michael Madigan, officially reported to federal prison to begin serving his sentence. Madigan was convicted in February 2025 on 10 counts, including bribery, wire fraud, conspiracy, and related corruption charges tied to a long-running scheme with utility giant Commonwealth Edison.

In June, a federal judge sentenced Madigan to 7½ years in prison and imposed a $2.5 million fine. His attorneys had sought to delay his prison reporting date while he pursued appeals, but the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected that motion earlier this month.

Madigan’s fall from power marks the end of one of the most powerful political figures in Illinois history. Yet, despite his conviction, Democrats in Springfield have shown little appetite for real ethics reform.

Senate Republicans have continued to push for stronger, common-sense reforms, including measures to establish independent oversight, tighten revolving-door restrictions, and increase transparency to help restore public trust in government. However, these proposals have repeatedly been blocked by Democratic leaders, failing to protect Illinoisans against future instances of corruption.