ILLINOIS (WCIA) -- Mike Madigan is now in federal prison for bribery and wire fraud. He served 50 years in the Illinois Legislature, including 35 years as Speaker of the House.

Many have said they were surprised to see Madigan tried at all. He was arguably the most powerful legislator in Illinois history. And, many in the statehouse want to make sure corruption like this can't happen again.

Mike Madigan used to be a titan of Illinois politics. His tenure in the legislature is one of the longest of any lawmaker in any state.

"This is very significant. He is probably the best known, most powerful member of the legislature that's ever been convicted of a political corruption and sent to jail," Kent Redfield, Professor Emeritus at the University of Illinois-Springfield, said.

But that once

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