Former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan has pleaded not guilty to federal charges of racketeering and bribery.
Madigan did not speak during a virtual court hearing, and attorneys entered the plea on his behalf. Meanwhile, a group of Democratic state lawmakers has rescinded its request that Governor JB Pritzker freeze funding on several public works projects that had been pushed by Madigan before he left office last year.
The lawmakers wanted a review of that spending in light of Madigan’s indictment in that federal corruption investigation, but faced a backlash from Latino lawmakers who say the projects in question are vital to communities in their districts.
