CHICAGO (CNI) — With 10 days until former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan is scheduled to report to federal prison, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday denied the longtime Democratic power broker’s bid to remain free while he challenges his corruption conviction.
Without extraordinary intervention from the U.S. Supreme Court, Madigan’s hopes for staying out of prison are slim as he prepares to surrender on Oct. 13.
The former speaker was convicted in February on 10 federal corruption charges — including bribery — after a lengthy trial in which he was accused of trading legislative action for jobs and contracts for his allies along with introductions to potential clients for his property tax appeal law firm.
The Chicago-based appellate judges did not sign their order or e