Ashlee Rezin-Garcia/Sun-Times file
Mike Madigan has spent over $2.7 million on lawyers so far this year alone.
The Southwest Side Democrat is no longer the speaker of the Illinois House, a state representative or leader of the state Democratic Party.
But he’s still Public Official A, the name given to him in a federal document that implicates him in long bribery scheme that ended his political career and continues to cost him in legal fees.
A total of $6,798,304.20 to be precise.
That’s because the latest $2,744,828.83 comes on top of $4,053,475.37 Madigan had already shelled out to lawyers since early 2018, a total that included fighting lawsuits filed by former political rivals and other legal troubles.
I wonder how long it will take to drain his funds?
- don the legend - Friday, Apr 16, 21 @ 10:22 am:
Assume the high average rate of $500.00 per billable hour, that comes to 13,597 hours.
That’s a whole lot of defendin going on.
Love how this is still considered a public use of campaign funds. Maybe with him gone the GA will finally consider limiting the use of campaign funds to only cover legal fees of the COMMITTEE instead of the candidate’s legal problems
== Assume the high average rate of $500.00 per billable hour, that comes to 13,597 hours. ===
$500 is not a high average rate that’s modest. This is Katten. More likely $1500 an hour with a team of 4-5 lawyers.
The future starts now for Welch, a savvy politician whose rapid ascendance through the party ranks was no accident, but rather the result of shrewd relationship building. A majority of Illinois voters have wanted a change from Madigan’s leadership. Now they finally get their chance.
In these final stages of his career, Madigan certainly looks to be more rogue than hero, although at points along the way he has surely been both. Under him, Illinois passed landmark social legislation. It also spent itself into a deep, unforgiving hole.