NW Illinois News

Andrew Chesney, a state senator from Illinois' 45th District, commented on the sentencing of former House Speaker Michael Madigan, emphasizing that even long-serving politicians are not immune to legal consequences.

"Even the most powerful politician in Illinois history is not above the law," said Andrew S. Chesney, Illinois State Senator (R), according to Facebook.

Former Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan, aged 83, was sentenced to seven and a half years in federal prison on June 13. This information was confirmed by a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice. U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey also imposed a $2.5 million fine on Madigan. He was convicted of leveraging his official position to corruptly solicit and receive financial benefits for himself and his associates. Following a four-month jury trial, Madigan was found guilty of conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States, using interstate facilities to promote unlawful activity, wire fraud, and bribery.

Screenshot of State Senator Andrew Chesney's June 13 Facebook post | State Senator Andrew Chesney's Facebook page

According to NBC 5 Chicago, Madigan is expected to begin his prison term on October 12. In addition to the 90-month sentence and immediate payment of the $2.5 million fine, he will serve three years of supervised release. Federal prosecutors had initially sought a 12.5-year prison term; however, the defense argued for probation, contending that such a lengthy sentence would result in Madigan dying in prison. Judge Blakey remarked during sentencing that "You took the law in your own hands and it is an aggravating factor in regards to the sentence." He further noted that "Acceptance of responsibility does not apply in this case," after considering whether sentencing guidelines should be increased.

Senator Chesney released a statement on his official website criticizing Democrats for obstructing ethics reform and maintaining what he described as a system favoring insiders. Chesney said: "Michael Madigan did not just break the rules. He spent decades writing his own and using them to build a corrupt political system that drained our state, overlooked the needs of Illinoisans and betrayed public trust." He added that while Madigan's sentencing is overdue, it barely addresses the damage inflicted upon Illinois by his actions.

Chesney has represented Illinois' 45th Senate District since 2022 and previously served in the state's 89th District from December 2018 onward. His career includes service as an elected member of Freeport City Council and participation as a board member with Regional Access Mobilization Project (RAMP), which provides support services for people with disabilities. Additionally, he has been involved as a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters.