Former CEO of Commonwealth Edison (ComEd), Anne Pramaggiore, has been sentenced to serve a two-year prison term in connection to a bribery scheme involving the ex-Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, as reported by Chicago Sun-Times. During the proceedings, U.S. District Judge Manish Shah characterised her involvement in the scandal as being "all in" on a corrupt plan crafted to curry favor with Madigan and to keep such machinations under wraps.
In handing down the sentence, the judge emphasized that the nature of the deception went beyond mere influence peddling, noting that it "was corruption expressed through the falsification of books and records." Meanwhile, Pramaggiore chose to remain silent and declined to offer statements prior to the sentencing. Despite arguments from her lawyer emphasizing her reputation as a "transformational leader," the push to secure a more lenient sentencing fell short. On the contrary, prosecutors were adamant that a substantial sentence was vital to firmly convey that legislative support should never be up for sale, insisting that Pramaggiore could have chosen to shut down the bribery plot at any moment, yet elected to persist, as the Chicago Sun-Times detailed.
The crux of the case revolved around allegations that Pramaggiore, along with other ComEd executives, were part of a long-running scheme to keep Madigan placated with jobs and contracts for his affiliates, a practice that began in 2011 and which saw ComEd allegedly dispensing around $1.3 million to five of Madigan's allies. The scheme was designed to foster legislative outcomes favorable to ComEd's interests. According to evidence presented at trial, these allies were reportedly paid through intermediaries and were not expected to perform any significant work for ComEd, as CBS News Chicago reports.
Pramaggiore's conviction comes as part of a broader sequence of sentences involving several key figures tied to the scandal, known as the "ComEd Four". Last week saw ComEd's former lobbyist, John Hooker, receiving an 18-month prison term. Proceedings for the other defendants are ongoing, with McClain and Doherty's sentences imminent. In a related case, Madigan faces a sentence of seven and a half years for his role in the bribe conspiracy, along with a fine totaling $2.5 million, according to CBS News Chicago. Pramaggiore, as well as other convicted parties, continue to profess their innocence and are reportedly seeking avenues for appeal.
