With the federal criminal trial of former Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan looming, there is a question of whether he will get a customary honor at the state Capitol that has been reserved for previous speakers.
Throughout the Illinois House, there are oil paintings of six past speakers, dating back to the mid-1960s and including Republican George Ryan, who went on to serve time in federal prison after leaving the governor’s office 20 years ago. Ryan’s portrait hangs in an upper-level gallery directly above the House speaker’s rostrum.
