Fact Check: The jury deadlocked on six counts against Madigan, including an overarching racketeering conspiracy charge.

Fact Check: "The jury deadlocked on six counts against Madigan, including an overarching racketeering conspiracy charge."

What We Know

Former Illinois Speaker of the House Michael J. Madigan was recently convicted on multiple federal charges, including conspiracy and bribery. The jury returned a mixed verdict after a four-month trial, convicting him on ten counts but deadlocking on six others. These deadlocked counts included one count of racketeering conspiracy, two counts of wire fraud, one count of bribery, one count of conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States, and one count of using interstate facilities to promote unlawful activity (source-1, source-2).

The jury's inability to reach a unanimous verdict on these six counts resulted in a mistrial being declared by U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey (source-3). This outcome is significant as it reflects the complexity of the case and the differing opinions among jurors regarding the evidence presented.

Analysis

The claim that the jury deadlocked on six counts against Madigan, including an overarching racketeering conspiracy charge, is substantiated by multiple credible sources. The U.S. Department of Justice confirmed the details of the verdict, including the specific counts on which the jury could not reach a consensus (source-1). Additionally, news outlets such as the New York Post and the Chicago Tribune reported on the jury's mixed verdict, emphasizing the deadlocked counts, which included the significant racketeering charge (source-2, source-3).

The sources used are reputable and provide detailed accounts of the trial proceedings, including the nature of the charges and the jury's deliberations. The Chicago Tribune and other local news outlets have a history of covering political corruption cases in Illinois, lending credibility to their reporting.

However, it is important to note that while the jury deadlocked on these counts, Madigan was still convicted on ten other counts, indicating that the evidence presented was compelling enough for the jury to reach a verdict on those charges (source-4, source-5).

Conclusion

The claim that "the jury deadlocked on six counts against Madigan, including an overarching racketeering conspiracy charge" is True. The evidence from multiple reliable sources confirms that the jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict on these specific counts, which included significant charges related to racketeering and bribery. This reflects the complexities and nuances involved in high-profile corruption trials.

Fact Check: The jury deadlocked on six counts against Madigan, including an overarching racketeering conspiracy charge.