SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Longtime Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan has announced he is stepping down from the seat he has held for decades.
He released a statement:
The 78-year-old Chicago Democrat was first elected to the Illinois House in 1970. He was elected House speaker in 1983 and served 36 of the next 38 years at the helm of the legislative body.
Madigan’s reputation was tarnished by a federal bribery investigation that came to light last summer that implicated him.
The former House speaker has not been charged with any wrongdoing and he maintains his innocence.
Madigan lost his bid for a 19th term as House speaker to Hillside Democrat Emanuel “Chris” Welch in January.
