Ex-Illinois Speaker Michael Madigan Sentenced to 7.5 Years in Prison
Clip: Season 2025 | 2m 58sVideo has Closed Captions
WTTW News reporter Matt Masterson is live at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse.
Michael Madigan, once the nation’s longest-serving state legislative leader, has been sentenced to more than seven years in prison on federal bribery and wire fraud convictions, thus bringing to a close one of the largest corruption cases in recent Illinois history.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Chicago Tonight is a local public television program presented by WTTW
WTTW video streaming support provided by members and sponsors.
Ex-Illinois Speaker Michael Madigan Sentenced to 7.5 Years in Prison
Clip: Season 2025 | 2m 58sVideo has Closed Captions
Michael Madigan, once the nation’s longest-serving state legislative leader, has been sentenced to more than seven years in prison on federal bribery and wire fraud convictions, thus bringing to a close one of the largest corruption cases in recent Illinois history.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
How to Watch Chicago Tonight
Chicago Tonight is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio.
WTTW News Explains
In this Emmy Award-winning series, WTTW News tackles your questions — big and small — about life in the Chicago area. Our video animations guide you through local government, city history, public utilities and everything in between.Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipa crackdown on short-term rentals like Airbnb.
>> We'll be joined by our we can review panel in just a moment.
But first we go to the Dirksen Federal Courthouse with a reporter Matt Masterson who is there for Matic and sentencing today.
Matt, what was the scene like at the courthouse?
>> And that top floor courtroom of Judge John Blakey was absolutely packed with media observers, members of Michael Madigan's family once hearing got underway.
There were no fireworks.
There are no live witnesses.
It was mostly just a clinical reading from Blakey of charges against Madigan, the bribery schemes that he outlined it was convicted of.
And the sense is that he faced ultimately handing down the 7 and a half year 90 month prison sentence along with a 2 and a half million dollar fine.
The maximum allowable under the guidelines.
Madigan made some brief statements, but there is no one else.
He spoke his favor outside of the hundreds of letters that were turned in before the hearing today.
seemed like it was quite the lengthy proceeding.
What did Madigan have to say when he was appealing to the judge what was his demeanor the hearing lasted about 4 hours.
Matt, again made some brief comments.
He apologized simply putting the state of Illinois through say he tried his best to represent his constituents as he was a politician, but that he admitted he isn't perfect what he did not do admit to any of the specific allegations against never admitted that he accepted bribes in exchange for his trading.
His public official action eyes.
Attorneys actually during the hearing maintained that he is still not guilty of all of these crimes, even once he was convicted of his demeanor was mostly relax throughout the hearing.
He didn't have person was as he normally is very stoic.
Taking notes.
You smiling and chatting with family and his attorneys.
But after the hearing after the sentence was handed down, it did appear that some realization was coming through of what had just happened to him, that he's going to be spending 7 and a half years in prison.
Warren, Matt, it seem like Judge Blake.
He certainly was not pulling his punches.
What did he have to say to meta can before he handed down that sentence?
>> Yeah, absolutely.
Judge Blake.
He absolutely took issue with Madigan's decision to testify and willfully perjured himself repeatedly.
Blakey, as you noted, called this a nauseating display called his testimony, which lasted parts of 4 days earlier this year.
Difficult to watch it part.
He's found that Madigan lied about basically regards of the schemes.
He lied about efforts to solicit bribes from common Commonwealth Edison, he lied about his relationship with his co-defendant.
Michael met Michael McClain.
He lied about his intention to secure a lucrative state board seat for Danny Solis Lake.
He went through all of these and it was very clear that this played a role significant sentence was handed down, not only the prison term, but as I said for the 2 and a half million dollar fine, the maximum allowable Blakey clearly relied on his issue with the perjury to come to that conclusion.
An Invisible Poison: Chicago Communities Push for More Action Around Lead Lines
Clip: S2025 | 13m 52s | Chicago has more lead service lines than any other city in the U.S. with more than 400,000. (13m 52s)
President Donald Trump on Sending the National Guard to Chicago
Clip: S2025 | 37s | President Donald Trump speaks to reporters in the Oval Office on Aug. 22, 2025. (37s)
WTTW News Explains: What Are Chicago’s Alcohol Laws?
Clip: S2025 | 2m 23s | We’ve got a lot of rules on the books governing when and where we can enjoy an adult beverage. (2m 23s)
WTTW News Explains: What’s the Story Behind Chicago’s Piping Plovers?
Clip: S2025 | 2m 25s | Piping plovers are tiny shorebirds, about the size of a smartphone but a fraction of the weight. (2m 25s)
Sister Rosemary Connelly, Longtime Leader of Misericordia, Dies at 94
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: S2025 | 1m 25s | Sister Rosemary Connelly served as Misericordia’s administrator for more than 50 years. (1m 25s)
WTTW News Explains: How Did Meigs Field Become Northerly Island Park?
Clip: S2025 | 2m 18s | Meigs Field was the nation's busiest single-runway airport. So what happened? WTTW News explains. (2m 18s)
Protesters Look to March Again as Chicago Police Hold Them Back
Clip: S2025 | 31s | Police worked to prevent protesters from a second march in Chicago. (31s)
Protesters in Downtown Chicago on 'No Kings' Day
Clip: S2025 | 1m 7s | Protesters peacefully make their way through downtown Chicago and Trump Tower. (1m 7s)
Marchers Make Their Way to Trump Tower in Chicago
Clip: S2025 | 17s | Marchers make their way past Trump Tower in downtown Chicago. (17s)
March Draws to an End in Chicago as Part of 'No Kings' Protest
Clip: S2025 | 12s | The last of the protesters make their way under the "L" stop at LaSalle. (12s)
Highland Park 'No Kings' Protest
Clip: S2025 | 22s | Thousands of protesters gathered in Highland Park on June 14, 2025. (22s)
Evanston Gathers for 'No Kings' Protest
Clip: S2025 | 30s | Protesters gather in downtown Evanston on June 14, 2025. (30s)
Crowds Gather in Chicago for 'No Kings' Protest
Clip: S2025 | 25s | Large crowds gather in downtown Chicago for the "No Kings" protest on June 14, 2025. (25s)
Chicago Protesters March Through Downtown
Clip: S2025 | 22s | Marchers make their way through downtown Chicago as part of the "No Kings" nationwide protest. (22s)
Chicago Bucket Boys Participate in Anti-Trump Protest
Clip: S2025 | 21s | Chicago bucket boys play during the "No Kings" protest in Chicago. (21s)
Now PlayingEx-Illinois Speaker Michael Madigan Sentenced to 7.5 Years in Prison
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: S2025 | 2m 58s | WTTW News reporter Matt Masterson is live at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse. (2m 58s)
Turtle Sunbathing in the Chicago River
Clip: S2025 | 9s | A turtle was spotted sunbathing in a discarded armchair in the Chicago River. (9s)
Clip: S2025 | 31s | An orange sky on May 15, 2025, on the North Side of Chicago. (31s)
Sea Otters Trained at Shedd Aquarium to Help Rescued Pups
Clip: S2025 | 59s | Shedd Aquarium is a partner in a groundbreaking surrogate mom program for sea otters. (59s)
Retirees in Argentina Protest as Community Groups Fill the Gaps Amid Health Care Crisis
Clip: S2025 | 3m 45s | Retirees in Argentina are facing health care shortages. Nonprofit groups work to fill the gaps. (3m 45s)
Restaurant Run by Neurodivergent Staff in Buenos Aires Offers Inclusive Dining Experience
Clip: S2025 | 3m 32s | Alamesa is a high-end eatery that is almost entirely staffed by individuals with neurodivergence. (3m 32s)
Clip: S2025 | 4m 8s | Alamesa is a restaurant designed to employ neurodivergent individuals. (4m 8s)
Karina's Law, Which Seeks to Reduce Gun Deaths, Set to Take Effect
Clip: S2025 | 9m 24s | A son sees a new law targeting domestic gun crimes as part of his late mother's legacy. (9m 24s)
How a Father’s Loss Sparked a Law That’s Saving Lives Through Organ Donation in Argentina
Clip: S2025 | 3m 7s | A man who lost his daughter helped pass a law encouraging organ donation in Argentina. (3m 7s)
From Waste to Worth: Buenos Aires Waste Pickers Help Keep Cities Clean and Families Fed
Clip: S2025 | 3m 54s | Cartoneros get paid to pick up trash, giving formal jobs to people with low socio-economic status. (3m 54s)
Former Rugby Player Helps Incarcerated People in Argentina Find Community Through Sport
Clip: S2025 | 3m 26s | A rugby program in Argentine prisons aims to prepare inmates for life after prison. (3m 26s)
Economic Reforms Trigger Medication Crisis for Argentina’s Retirees
Clip: S2025 | 2m 53s | Millions of retirees in Argentina rely on nonprofits for access to prescriptions. (2m 53s)
At San Martin Prison in Argentina, Rugby Helps Incarcerated Women Rebuild Their Lives
Clip: S2025 | 3m 26s | A program allows women in prison to rebuild their lives with the help of rugby. (3m 26s)
Argentine School Wins Global Prize for Community Collaboration
Clip: S2025 | 3m 13s | A school in Argentina works to uplift the next generation of students. (3m 13s)
Argentina’s Cartoneros Struggle to Keep Recycling, and Their Careers, Alive
Clip: S2025 | 3m 27s | Argentina's cartoneros clean streets while making a living. (3m 27s)
WTTW News Explains: What is a TIF District?
Clip: S2025 | 2m 50s | A financial tool called tax-increment financing creates a pool of taxpayer money to better the city. (2m 50s)
Lilies at the Chicago Botanic Garden
Clip: S2025 | 17s | Rare yellow trout lily at Chicago Botanic Garden. (17s)
Birds Migrate Over Lake Michigan
Clip: S2025 | 25s | Double-crested cormorants have been thrilling Chicagoans. (25s)
Cherry Trees in Bloom at Jackson Park
Clip: S2025 | 15s | A blizzard of blossoms in Jackson Park, where cherry trees are still in bloom, but not for long. (15s)
Skunk Cabbage Emerges at the Chicago Botanic Garden
Clip: S2025 | 1m 6s | Heather Decker, managing ecologist at the Chicago Botanic Garden, explains skunk cabbage. (1m 6s)
Chicago Piping Plovers Imani and Pippin at Montrose Beach
Clip: S2025 | 19s | Piping plovers Imani and Pippin vie for territory at Montrose Beach on April 18, 2025. (19s)
US Rep. Delia Ramirez on Trump's Immigration Policies
Clip: S2025 | 3m 18s | U.S. Rep. Delia Ramirez on the Trump administration's approach to immigration policy. (3m 18s)
Endangered Sea Stars Make Debut at Shedd Aquarium
Clip: S2025 | 1m 15s | The sea stars are now listed as critically endangered. (Courtesy of Shedd Aquarium) (1m 15s)
How to Watch Friday’s Total Lunar Eclipse
Clip: S2025 | 2m 7s | WTTW News shares common FAQs about watching total lunar eclipses. (2m 7s)
WTTW News Explains: Chicago’s Famous Foods
Clip: S2025 | 2m 45s | Chicago is home to a plateful of iconic foods. WTTW News explains. (2m 45s)
Video Shows Planes Nearly Collide at Chicago Midway Airport
Clip: S2025 | 33s | The FAA is investigating the incident, which took place at around 8:50 a.m. local time. (33s)
A Look Inside Chicago's Mayoral Gift Room
Clip: S2025 | 19s | A small room at City Hall is filled with gifts accepted by the mayor on behalf of the city. (19s)
Neko Case Performs in Chicago in 2001
Clip: S2025 | 44s | The singer-songwriter performs in Chicago in 2001. (44s)
Neko Case on the Possibilities of Music
Clip: S2025 | 13s | WTTW News interviews Neko Case in Chicago in 2001. (13s)
Field Museum Herpetologists Uncoil a Luzon King Cobra Specimen
Clip: S2025 | 34s | Field Museum herpetologists uncoil a specimen of the renamed Luzon king cobra. (34s)
WTTW News Explains: How Did Chicago Become a Sanctuary City?
Clip: S2025 | 2m 42s | For four decades, Chicago has held the designation of a sanctuary city. WTTW News explains. (2m 42s)
Chicago Park District Collects Christmas Trees for Mulching
Clip: S2025 | 7s | A live Christmas tree is dropped off at a Chicago Park District collection site in 2023. (7s)
Concerns Over Racial Profiling Intensify After Supreme Court Ruling
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: 9/11/2025 | 9m 49s | The ruling coincides with the Department of Homeland Security's "Operation Midway Blitz" in Chicago. (9m 49s)
Chicagoans Prepare for Mexican Independence Day Events Amid ICE Concerns
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: 9/11/2025 | 8m 48s | Organizers worry federal immigration agents could target this weekend's events. (8m 48s)
What Illinois Residents Should Know About Updated Vaccine Guidelines
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: 9/9/2025 | 10m 34s | More people might experience hurdles to getting the COVID-19 vaccine this year. (10m 34s)
Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship
- News and Public Affairs
Top journalists deliver compelling original analysis of the hour's headlines.
- News and Public Affairs
FRONTLINE is investigative journalism that questions, explains and changes our world.
Support for PBS provided by:
Chicago Tonight is a local public television program presented by WTTW
WTTW video streaming support provided by members and sponsors.