Prairie State Wire

Tim Mapes, a former chief of staff to the indicted ex-state House Speaker Michael Madigan, has been sentenced to 30 months in prison for lying to a federal grand jury investigation. The court found that Mapes had attempted to obstruct Madigan's criminal indictment by providing false testimony.

Mapes was granted immunity prior to his questioning by the grand jury, which shielded him from prosecution related to his testimony unless he committed perjury or made false statements. According to a press release, the jury convicted Mapes of making false declarations and attempting to obstruct justice during his grand jury testimony on March 31, 2021. It was found that Mapes deliberately lied about a consultant's relationship with Madigan between 2017 and 2019.

Federal prosecutors sought a five-year sentence for Mapes' conviction, arguing that it was an attempt to thwart the government's extensive probe into corruption within state government. In contrast, Mapes’ attorney requested that he be sentenced to community service. NBC Chicago reports that U.S. District Court Judge John Kness told Mapes before delivering his two-and-a-half-year sentence that his apparent display of loyalty to Madigan by lying to the grand jury was severely misguided.

Mapes is the first member of Madigan's inner circle to be sentenced to prison.

According to previous reports by Prairie State Wire, ComEd lobbyist Michael McClain and Madigan insiders - retired ComEd executive John Hooker, former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore and ComEd consultant Jay Doherty - were convicted in May. The group known as the "ComEd Four" were initially scheduled for sentencing in January. However, their defense attorneys continue to seek delays.