Judge's decree: Mike Madigan to serve prison time during appeal period
In a ruling made on Friday, former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison for corruption-related charges. The sentencing, which took place in June, followed a trial that saw Madigan convicted on bribery, conspiracy, and fraud charges.
However, Madigan's request to delay his prison term while appealing his convictions was denied. U.S. District Judge John Blakey, who presided over Madigan’s trial and sentencing, ruled that Madigan's legal arguments were "routine, and meritless," relying on "false hope" rather than substantive grounds.
In a 44-page order, Judge Blakey wrote that Madigan's motion was based on incorrect claims and false assertions without sufficient merit to justify release pending appeal. As a result, the judge rejected Madigan's request to remain out of prison during the appeal process.
The specific legal grounds for denying the request were the judge's conclusion that Madigan's objections did not meet the necessary standard for release pending appeal. Essentially, the judge found no valid or exceptional reason to stay the prison sentence during the appellate process.
It is important to note that Madigan was acquitted on seven other charges, and jurors deadlocked on six further counts. Despite this, the judge's decision stands, and Madigan must report to prison while he appeals his conviction. He was also ordered to pay a $2.5 million fine.
As of now, the details about the appeal process have not been provided. The public will await further developments in this case.
- The denial of Mike Madigan's request to delay his prison term while appealing his convictions is a significant development in the crime-and-justice news section, given the corruption charges he faced.
- As fans of general-news and politics await updates on Madigan's appeal process, it's crucial to note that his specific legal grounds for denial were based on the judge's conclusion that his objections did not meet the necessary standard for release pending appeal, as reported in the news.
