On Wednesday, February 12, 2025, former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan was found guilty, on 11 counts of conspiracy, bribery, and wire fraud. In response, State Representative Brad Fritts released the following statement.
“Today, justice was finally served for the people of Illinois, who suffered for decades under the unethical rule of Former House Speaker Michael Madigan. This verdict is a stark reminder of what happens when corrupt, unethical behavior runs rampant in our State Government.
“Unfortunately, the people of Illinois have become used to the pay-to-play, corrupt system that has plagued our State Government for years. My message to the people of Illinois is this: ‘We are done playing games and submitting to the corrupt practices of the past. We do not have to accept years of corruption and mismanagement as the norm. We can, and will, demand better of those elected to serve the people of our State.”
Rep. Fritts has previously sponsored multiple ethics reform bills, including a bill to impose term limits on Legislative leadership roles.
Rep. Fritts concluded, “This guilty verdict has made me more determined than ever to deliver ethics reform to the people of our State. There are dozens of common-sense bills that have been filed by House Republicans, yet the majority party refuses to call any for a vote. In the wake of the guilty verdict of the patriarch of the Illinois Democratic party, it is finally time to pass ethics reform. My message to Speaker Chris Welch is clear: it’s time to call the bills. Illinois deserves better!”
For more information about Representative Fritts, visit http://RepFritts.com.