Fact Check: Madigan's attorneys requested five years' probation for him.

Published June 14, 2025

•By

VERDICT

Partially True

# Fact Check: "Madigan's attorneys requested five years' probation for him." ## What We Know Michael Madigan, the former Illinois House Speaker, was ...

Fact Check: "Madigan's attorneys requested five years' probation for him."

What We Know

Michael Madigan, the former Illinois House Speaker, was sentenced to 90 months (7.5 years) in prison for federal bribery, conspiracy, and wire fraud convictions. During the sentencing hearing, Madigan's attorneys indeed requested a sentence of five years' probation, arguing that a lengthy prison term would be excessively harsh for an 83-year-old man who had not personally profited from his crimes (NBC Chicago, WMBDRadio). They proposed that the first year of probation should be served under home confinement, along with community service and a reasonable fine (CBS News, Yahoo News).

Analysis

The claim that Madigan's attorneys requested five years' probation is accurate. Multiple sources confirm that his legal team sought this lenient sentence, emphasizing his age and lack of personal financial gain from his actions (NBC Chicago, WMBDRadio). However, the court ultimately imposed a much harsher sentence of 90 months in prison, along with three years of probation following his release (NBC Chicago, WMBDRadio).

The sources used in this analysis are credible, including major news outlets such as NBC Chicago and CBS News, which have a reputation for thorough reporting. However, it is essential to note that the framing of Madigan's request for probation may reflect a defense strategy aimed at mitigating the consequences of his convictions rather than a straightforward reflection of his character or actions.

Conclusion

The claim that "Madigan's attorneys requested five years' probation for him" is Partially True. While it accurately reflects the defense's request during the sentencing hearing, it does not convey the outcome of that request, which was ultimately denied by the court in favor of a significant prison term.

Sources

Have a claim you want to verify? It's 100% Free!

Our AI-powered fact-checker analyzes claims against thousands of reliable sources and provides evidence-based verdicts in seconds. Completely free with no registration required.

💡 Try:

"Coffee helps you live longer"

✓100% Free

✓No Registration

✓Instant Results