CHICAGO — Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan reported to a West Virginia federal prison on Monday to begin his 7 ½-year sentence for public corruption — nearly 600 miles away from his native Chicago and the state he spent decades shaping as its most influential power broker.

Madigan, who turned 83 a couple months after his marathon four-month trial ended in February, had asked to remain free while his newly hired high-profile team of appellate lawyers work on overturning his conviction. But earlier this month, the 7 th Circuit Court of Appeals denied the bid, sealing the former speaker’s fate as federal inmate number 90368-509.

Read more: 7th Circuit denies Madigan’s bid to stay out of prison while he appeals corruption conviction | Judge denies ex-Speaker Madigan’s reque

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