{"id":2402651,"date":"2025-02-14T10:15:57","date_gmt":"2025-02-14T15:15:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/convicted-ex-speakers-pension-payments-to-stop-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-02-14T10:19:02","modified_gmt":"2025-02-14T15:19:02","slug":"convicted-ex-speakers-pension-payments-to-stop-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/convicted-ex-speakers-pension-payments-to-stop-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Convicted ex-speaker\u2019s pension payments to stop &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fconvicted-ex-speakers-pension-payments-to-stop-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2402651&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Michael Madigan, the former Speaker of the \u2064Illinois House, will no longer receive pension payments following his \u200brecent conviction \u2064on\u2063 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pressure-mounts-for-democrat-sen-bob-menendez-to-resign-from-office-over-corruption-charges\/\" title=\"Calls for Sen. Bob Menendez&#039;s resignation intensify due to ... charges.\">multiple corruption charges<\/a>. After a <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">long\u2063 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/blm-leaders-slam-adam-schiff-urge-newsom-not-to-appoint-him-as-ca-attorney-general\/\" title=\"BLM Leaders Slam Adam Schiff, Urge Newsom Not To Appoint Him As CA Attorney General\">legislative career<\/a> spanning<\/a> over 50 years,\u2064 Madigan had been receiving benefits from the General Assembly Retirement System (GARS) since his retirement in 2021. His pension will be suspended beginning the month after\u2064 his conviction, as stipulated by GARS policies which do not allow the recouping of benefits paid out before a felony conviction. \u200b <\/p>\n<p>During the period from his retirement until\u2062 the present, Madigan collected approximately $580,811 in pension payments, with an annual pension of $158,027. In total, he contributed around $352,345 to his pension over his career, with his lifetime benefits estimated to be around \u200c$1.65 million \u200bprior to his conviction. <\/p>\n<p>Critics argue that as his crimes were connected \u200dto his official duties, he should be required to\u200b repay the pension\u2064 benefits received. \u200bA bench trial\u2063 for asset \u200cforfeiture \u200brelated to his\u2062 crimes is scheduled\u200b for May \u200c5. His case reflects broader concerns regarding the \u200bIllinois pension system, \u200bespecially as it struggles with underfunding issues while providing benefits that some lawmakers find arduous to \u200balter.The jury found Madigan guilty on ten counts, including bribery, conspiracy, and wire fraud, indicating serious violations\u200b of public trust. A date for \u200chis sentencing has not yet been established.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Convicted ex-speaker&rsquo;s pension payments to stop<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1993554\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>(The Center Square) &ndash; Illinois taxpayers are off the hook for Michael Madigan&rsquo;s future pension payments, now that the former Illinois House speaker has been convicted of corruption.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Madigan, a Democrat, has received payments from the General Assembly Retirement System (GARS) since he retired in 2021 after 50 years in the Statehouse.<\/p>\n<p>When a GARS retiree is convicted of a felony, the benefit is suspended the first&nbsp;of the month following the conviction. &nbsp;A GARS spokesman told The Center Square, &ldquo;This is generally the earliest we can stop benefits as the monthly payments are finalized the 8th&nbsp;or 9th&nbsp;day of a given month.<\/p>\n<p>According to the Illinois Policy Institute, Madigan collected a pension worth $158,027 in 2024 and received $580,811 between his retirement in 2021 through 2024.<\/p>\n<p>Pursuant to state statute and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fighting-back-dad-facing-jail-time-banned-from-kids-school-for-refusing-mask-outside-if-i-have-to-sue-i-will\/\" title=\"FIGHTING BACK: Dad Facing Jail Time, Banned From Kids\u2019 School For Refusing Mask Outside: If I Have To Sue, I Will\u00a0\">board policy<\/a>, GARS does not recoup benefits paid before a conviction.<\/p>\n<p>Illinois Policy Institute Assistant Editor Dylan Sharkey said it shouldn&rsquo;t be that way.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Although he was just convicted now, he was convicted of crimes from years ago, well before he retired, meaning that he should have to pay back what he&rsquo;s already been paid out, that $580,000,&rdquo; Sharkey told The Center Square.<\/p>\n<p>Madigan&rsquo;s pension contributions were $352,345 over the course of his legislative career. Sharkey said his lifetime benefit was estimated at about $1.65 million before Wednesday&rsquo;s conviction.<\/p>\n<p>According Sharkey, lawmakers are not likely to change a system that favors them over the taxpayers.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Illinois&rsquo; pensions are famously underfunded. The General Assembly Retirement System is actually one of the best-funded, which is even less of a reason for lawmakers to act on the pension crisis, because it doesn&rsquo;t affect their personal lives,&rdquo; Sharkey said.<\/p>\n<p>Judge John Robert Blakey has scheduled Madigan&rsquo;s forfeiture bench trial for May 5. After his conviction on 10 corruption-related charges Wednesday, Madigan faces potential forfeiture of some assets because he benefited off of his crimes.<\/p>\n<p>Sharkey said it is time for Madigan to pay back what he owes the people of Illinois.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;There&rsquo;s definitely a million dollars that should be up for grabs that taxpayers are owed, because his conviction was directly related to his work. Had he been convicted of crimes that were unrelated to his office, it would be a completely different story,&rdquo; Sharkey said.<\/p>\n<p>The jury convicted Madigan on 10 counts of bribery, conspiracy, wire fraud and use of a facility to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/prosecutors-describe-make-mike-madigan-money-plan-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Prosecutors describe \u2018Make Mike ... Money Plan\u2019 - Washington Examiner\">promote unlawful activity<\/a>. Government attorneys said the former speaker repeatedly violated the public trust.<\/p>\n<p>A sentencing date has not been scheduled.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1993554\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1993554\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ex-speaker Madigan&#8217;s pension payments halted after conviction<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2402652,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/illinois-state-capitol.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[3687,48370,50389,32076],"class_list":["post-2402651","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-convicted","tag-ex-speaker","tag-pension-payments","tag-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/illinois-state-capitol.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2402651","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2402651"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2402651\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2402655,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2402651\/revisions\/2402655"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2402652"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2402651"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2402651"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2402651"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}