SPRINGFIELD – Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan will have to report to prison this month after a federal appeals court Friday denied his bid to remain free.

 

Flanked by his two daughters, former Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan, the longest-serving legislative leader in U.S. history, departs the Dirksen Federal Courthouse after receiving a 7 ½-year prison sentence on corruption charges. He was also fined $2.5 million. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Andrew Adams)

Capitol News Illinois reports the ex-speaker argued he shouldn’t be in prison while his appeals process plays out. But after Friday’s ruling, Madigan is unlikely to avoid surrendering to federal prison on October 13 .

A jury convicted the former speaker on 10 counts of bribery and other corruption charges earlier this year, and in June was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons has not yet assigned Madigan a location to serve out his term.