Tim Mapes, Madigan's former chief of staff, reports to Florida prison

[June 13, 2024]  By Brett Rowland | The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan's longtime chief of staff has reported to the Federal Bureau of Prisons to start his 2.5-year sentence for perjury.   

Tim Mapes, 69, served for decades under Madigan as the clerk of the Illinois House and as Madigan's chief of staff. In August 2023, a federal jury found Mapes guilty of perjury and obstruction of justice for lying to a grand jury investigating Madigan and others.

Mapes reported to FPC Pensacola, a minimum security federal prison camp in Florida.

According to the indictment, Mapes acted as a courier exchanging messages between Madigan and former state Rep. Michael McClain, who worked as a lobbyist for Commonwealth Edison after retiring from the House. The indictment alleged that Mapes lied to the grand jury when asked about Madigan's relationship with McClain, even though Mapes had been granted immunity to testify truthfully.

Mapes was fired from his position under Madigan in 2018 after harassment allegations. In 2019, an inspector general said Mapes should never be allowed to work for the state government again.

ComEd, the state's largest utility, agreed to pay $200 million in July 2020 to resolve a criminal investigation into the years-long bribery scheme. As part of a deferred prosecution agreement, ComEd admitted it arranged jobs, vendor subcontracts and payments to influence Madigan.

Madigan served in the Illinois House from 1971 to 2021. He served as speaker of the Illinois House from 1983 to 1995 and again from 1997 to 2021. He wielded additional power as chairman of the Democratic Party of Illinois.

Madigan, who resigned after losing the House speakership in January 2021, has been charged with 23 counts of racketeering, bribery and official misconduct in a separate case, along with McClain, that could go to trial in October 2024. He has pleaded not guilty.

At the sentencing, the judge said the state's history of public corruption has been well-documented and couldn't be ignored.

"The people of this state cry out for accountability," Kness said. "Accountability is absolutely necessary in this case."

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