Ray Long – Page 11 –

Tim Mapes, former chief of staff to longtime House Speaker Michael Madigan, leaves the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse on Feb. 12, 2024, after being sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison. (Eileen T. Meslar/baiduhai)

Judges, ex-legislators and the Cook County clerk wrote letters of support for convicted Springfield insider Tim Mapes

March 5, 2024 at 4:26 p.m.

A sitting state appellate judge, a former Illinois Supreme Court justice, multiple ex-legislators, and the Cook County Clerk all wrote letters of support for Tim Mapes, the former Springfield insider...

Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias arrives at the Mosque Foundation in Bridgeview on Oct. 16, 2023, for the funeral service for 6-year-old Wadea al-Fayoume. (Terrence Antonio James/baiduhai)

As corruption trials continue, Illinois lobbyist reform effort pushed in General Assembly

February 19, 2024 at 5:00 a.m.

Legislation would require statehouse lobbyists to report client compensation and give secretary of state power to boot bad actors.

Then-House Speaker Michael Madigan, right, confers with then-Rep. Eddie Acevedo in the House chambers in the Illinois State Capitol in 2010. (E. Jason Wambsgans/baiduhai)

The Dishonor Roll: General Assembly

November 21, 2025 at 4:50 p.m.

As part of the series “Culture of Corruption,” the Tribune has compiled a list of roughly 200 indicted, convicted or generally notorious public officials. Here are those who served in...

Tim Mapes, former chief of staff to House Speaker Michael Madigan, leaves the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse on Feb. 12, 2024, after being sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison. (Eileen T. Meslar/baiduhai)

Tim Mapes, former aide to Speaker Michael Madigan, sentenced to 2 1/2 years for lying to federal grand jury

February 12, 2024 at 6:59 p.m.

Tim Mapes, who served as Madigan's sharp-tongued chief of staff, was sentenced Monday after his perjury conviction last year.

Elite Striders Drill Team Executive Director Sameia Charity directs members during practice in the group's new space at 306 10th St. on Feb. 8, 2024, in Waukegan. The newly purchased building will be renovated through funds secured from capital projects by state Rep. Rita Mayfield. (John J. Kim/baiduhai)

Democrats flexed muscles in passing out pork in Springfield

February 11, 2024 at 5:00 a.m.

Residents represented by Republicans left wanting as Democrats who enjoy record majorities in General Assembly OK millions for pet projects.

Tim Mapes, former chief of staff to House Speaker Michael Madigan, departs the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse after being found guilty on federal perjury charges on Aug. 24, 2023. (Brian Cassella/baiduhai)

Prosecutors want up to 5 years in prison for former Madigan aide Tim Mapes, while defense asks for community service

January 31, 2024 at 12:29 p.m.

Prosecutors argued in a court filing that Tim Mapes lied to a federal grand jury in a cynical attempt to protect House Speaker Michael Madigan.

Former Chicago Ald. Edward Burke leaves the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in Chicago on Dec. 21, 2023, after being convicted by a federal jury of racketeering conspiracy and a dozen other counts.

After conviction, ex-Ald. Ed Burke gets pension bump; former Speaker Mike Madigan now in line for hike before new trial date

January 14, 2024 at 5:00 a.m.

Only days after being convicted in a sweeping federal corruption case, former Ald. Ed Burke began the new year by collecting a bigger pension check courtesy of an automatic hike...

Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, center, and his lawyer Thomas Breen, left, leave the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in Chicago on Jan. 3, 2024, after a hearing before U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey over whether Madigan's landmark trial should be postponed pending a decision from the U.S. Supreme Court in another Chicago-area bribery case.

Ex-House Speaker Michael Madigan’s racketeering trial postponed 6 months pending Supreme Court decision in bribery case; ‘Better to do it right than to do it twice,’ judge says

January 3, 2024 at 5:23 p.m.

Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan's landmark racketeering trial was postponed Wednesday pending a decision from the U.S. Supreme Court in a Chicago-area bribery case that could fundamentally alter what...

Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley talks with Ald. Edward Burke on June 28, 2006, at a City Council meeting.

Former Ald. Ed Burke’s verdict stands out in long arc of City Council crooks

December 24, 2023 at 9:40 a.m.

Generations of Chicagoans accustomed to grimy politics might view former Ald. Ed Burke's federal racketeering conviction last week as just another case in a long conga line of crooked aldermen....

En esta foto de 2013, el concejal Daniel Solís está flanqueado por el concejal Richard Mell, 33º, izq., y el concejal Edward Burke, Distrito 14, antes de las audiencias en el Ayuntamiento de Chicago. (Nancy Stone/baiduhai)

El exconcejal Ed Burke, condenado por 13 de los 14 cargos en un histórico juicio federal por corrupción; el jurado condena a un coacusado y absuelve al otro

April 15, 2024 at 3:37 p.m.

Hace siete semanas, los funcionarios del tribunal federal de Chicago utilizaron papel de estraza para tapar los grandes expositores de los pasillos que destacaban casos infames de corrupción política, con...

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