The swagger that Illinois’ Democrats have displayed since taking full control of Springfield three years ago had already been tamped down by the political realities of confronting crime and COVID when corruption reared up as one more daunting campaign issue heading into this year’s elections.
The federal charges filed Wednesday against former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, long the state’s most powerful politician and the man who set agendas for the Democrats and the state for decades, represent a staggering indictment of Springfield’s political and power culture, even though Madigan was dethroned more than a year ago.
Don Tracy, the state Republican chairman, left little doubt about the role Madigan will play up and down this election year’s ballot.
