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 involved in a high-profile federal corruption trial. After a lengthy deliberation, the jury convicted him on ten counts, including conspiracy and bribery, but did not reach a unanimous verdict on six other counts. These included an overarching racketeering conspiracy charge, as well as 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 verdict on these counts led to a mistrial being declared by U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey (source-4).
Analysis
The claim that the jury deadlocked on six counts against Madigan, including a racketeering conspiracy charge, is substantiated by multiple credible sources. The U.S. Attorney's Office confirmed the details of the verdicts, stating that the jury acquitted Madigan on several counts while declaring a mistrial on the six deadlocked counts (source-1). Furthermore, reports from reputable news outlets such as NBC Chicago and the Chicago Tribune corroborate this information, emphasizing that the racketeering charge was among the deadlocked counts (source-2, source-4).
The reliability of these sources is high, as they are established news organizations and official government announcements. They provide detailed accounts of the trial proceedings and the jury's decisions, which are essential for understanding the context of the verdicts.
Conclusion
The claim that "the jury deadlocked on six counts against Madigan, including an overarching racketeering conspiracy charge" is True. The evidence from multiple credible sources confirms that the jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict on these specific counts, leading to a mistrial.
Sources
- Former Illinois Speaker of the House Michael J. Madigan Convicted on Federal Conspiracy and Bribery Charges. Justice.gov
- Michael Madigan sentenced to prison in corruption case. NBC Chicago
- Longest-serving legislative leader in US history given 7 1/2 years. New York Post
- Michael Madigan finally faces sentencing in corruption case. Chicago Tribune
- Michael Madigan Sentenced To 7 ½ Years In Prison, Fined. Block Club Chicago
- Jury deadlocks, partially convicts ex-Illinois House speaker. Courthouse News
- Former House Speaker Michael Madigan gets 7 1/2 years. Belleville News-Democrat
- Madigan guilty of bribery conspiracy as jury returns partial verdict. Illinois Answers
