Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan on Friday was sentenced to 7 ½ years in prison, following his conviction earlier this year on bribery, conspiracy, and fraud charges.Madigan, 83, also faces a $2.

U.S. District Judge John Blakey handed down the sentence Friday, four months after the former Illinois House speaker was convicted of 10 felony corruption charges.

Michael Madigan, the country’s longest-serving state House leader, served as speaker of the Illinois House from 1983 until 2021, with the exception of two years. Along the way, he developed a reputation as an all-powerful political wizard who wielded vast influence over laws affecting nearly