According to The Center Square, Michael Madigan’s former chief of staff, who served under him for a long time, has begun his 2.5-year term for perjury by reporting to the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
Tim Mapes, who worked as the clerk of the Illinois House and as Madigan’s chief of staff for many years, was found guilty of perjury and obstruction of justice in August 2023 by a federal jury investigating Madigan and others. Mapes, who is 69 years old, has been implicated in the investigation.
Upon completion of his sentence, Mapes was assigned to FPC Pensacola which is a minimum security federal prison camp located in Florida.
In February, Judge John Kness of the U.S. District Court handed down a 30-month prison sentence to Mapes.
The indictment accuses Mapes of serving as a messenger, relaying messages between Madigan and former state Representative Michael McClain, who was a lobbyist for Commonwealth Edison after retiring from the House. The indictment further claims that Mapes provided false information to the grand jury when questioned about Madigan’s association with McClain, despite being granted immunity to provide truthful testimony.
In 2018, harassment allegations led to Mapes’ termination from his position under Madigan. A year later, an inspector general concluded that Mapes should be permanently banned from working for the state government.
In July 2020, ComEd, which happens to be the largest utility in the state, agreed to pay a whopping $200 million in order to settle a criminal investigation that had gone on for years, centered around a bribery scheme. ComEd went on to admit that it had arranged jobs, vendor subcontracts, and payments, all with the aim of influencing Madigan, as part of a deferred prosecution agreement.
Michael Madigan had a long and illustrious career in the Illinois House, serving from 1971 to 2021. During his tenure, he held the position of speaker of the Illinois House twice, from 1983 to 1995 and again from 1997 to 2021. His authority extended beyond the House as he also served as the chairman of the Democratic Party of Illinois.
Following his resignation from the House speakership in January 2021, Madigan has been facing 23 counts of racketeering, bribery, and official misconduct in a distinct case, along with McClain. The trial for these charges is expected to take place in October 2024, and Madigan has pleaded not guilty to all accusations.
During the sentencing, the judge acknowledged that the state has a well-documented history of public corruption that cannot be overlooked.
Kness emphasized the importance of accountability in this case, stating that the people of the state are calling for it. “It is absolutely necessary,” she said.
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