Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan continues to receive nearly $150,000 a year in state government pensions, even though a federal jury convicted Tim Mapes of two felony charges last week.
In fact, while Mr. Mapes sat defending himself against the pile of evidence in Dirksen U.S. Court, Mr. Mapes had automatically collected a monthly pension check of $12,492 for August, according to his pension records.
And there’s a good chance he’ll continue to collect that money.
[ Tim Mapes, longtime gatekeeper to House Speaker Michael Madigan, found guilty of lying to federal grand jury to ‘protect the boss’ ]
Illinois pension laws generally require a direct connection to a crime committed while a public employee is on duty before pensions can be withdrawn. Given that Mr. Mapes lied to a federal grand jury almost three years after Mr. Madigan forced him to resign, a judgment from federal court is expected due to the very permissive pension law. may give Mr. Mapes ample leeway to end his pension suspension efforts. It will go to trial early next year.
Mapes, 68, of Springfield, began receiving taxpayer-backed pension checks shortly after Madigan announced his resignation on June 6, 2018. Mapes’ high-profile dismissal came within hours of staff accusing him of years of sexual harassment and parenting practices. A culture of sexism, harassment and bullying creates a very difficult work environment. ” Mapes denies these accusations.
Records show that Mapes has collected $723,775 in pension payments since Madigan forced him out five years ago.
On August 24, a federal jury found Mr. Mapes guilty before a grand jury on March 31, 2021, of lying to defend Mr. Madigan from a federal extortion investigation. Mr. Mapes served as chief of staff for 25 years. He also served as Clerk of the House of Commons.
Mr. Mapes was found guilty of attempted obstruction of justice and faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a perjury charge of up to five years in prison. Madigan has been charged with extortion along with co-defendant Michael McClain, a longtime Madigan confidant. They have pleaded not guilty and are set to go on trial on April 1.
Mapes’ criminal defense attorney, Andrew Porter, declined to comment on the pension issue.
Timothy Blair, who oversees pensions for most of the state’s unelected employees, said a review would be held to determine whether pensions should be lost following Mapes’ conviction. , Sentencing is scheduled for January 10. Blair said collecting monthly pension checks would allow him to collect about $50,000 before sentencing.
If Mr. Mapes is sentenced, the case will be investigated by the office of Democratic Attorney General Kwame Raul to determine whether Mr. Mapes is eligible for a pension despite his conviction. . Blair said the Attorney General’s investigation into Mapes’ crimes found that some of the lies that led to Mapes’ conviction touched on his tenure, which could jeopardize Mapes’ pension. He said he would check to see if there were any.
“That’s why we hire lawyers,” Blair said. “We are incapable of making that judgment.”
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After considering Raoul’s recommendation, After that, the state employee retirement system board, chaired by Democratic State Comptroller Susana Mendoza, will make decisions about Mapes’ pension.
“It is my personal opinion that anyone convicted of violating public trust should be deprived of taxpayer-contributed pensions,” Mendoza said in a statement to the Tribune. “SERS will comply with the law. Pension litigation will require legal certification.” Inquiries were received from the Attorney General’s office as to whether the state employee’s conviction was state job-related and whether pensions would be terminated under state law. “
Former Democratic Senator Susan Garrett of Lake Forest said Mapes’ case could fall into a “grey area” of law and “could be granted permission” because of timing. . crime for which he was convicted. She pointed out that Mapes lied to a grand jury after she left state government, but she was found guilty. Lying on subjects related to his work in Madigan State Government.
The Mapes case was addressed by legislators to ensure that former civil servants convicted of crimes arising in connection with government work cannot easily “evade” laws that may harm them. It exposes potential expertise that needs to be clarified. Garrett said he would get a pension if he was still employed and is now president of the Illinois Political Center, a bipartisan organization that tracks important state issues.
If Mapes’ pension is protected, he will continue to receive automatic 3% annual increases for the rest of his life, according to pension guidelines.
An obvious factor in Mr. Mapes’ favor is that the hurdles to canceling the National Pension are much higher. Even if you are sentenced to prison, you will not automatically lose your retirement benefits.
A recent example is that of a former lawmaker. Edward Acevedo, a Democrat from Chicago and former police officer, spent less than a year in prison after pleading guilty to tax-related charges stemming from a sweeping federal corruption probe. But since Acevedo’s tax evasion allegations arose after he left the Illinois House of Representatives, former members of the Madigan House Democratic leadership are still allowed to stay in office. his pension.
Blair said the General Assembly Retirement Plan is currently paying Acevedo $6,267 a month, and $377,888.34 since he retired in July 2018.
Blair, who also oversees legislative pensions, said Acevedo’s benefits were suspended on Jan. 1, 2022, and resumed on Apr. 27, 2022, during a review period. Blair said his reinstatement was based on the Attorney General’s view that Acevedo’s felony conviction was unrelated to his actions in the state legislature.
Former Republican Governor George Ryan lost his lucrative pension after being convicted of corruption while serving as Illinois secretary of state and governor.
More than three years after his federal conviction and retirement, Ryan received $635,000 from the Illinois taxpayer-backed legislative and statewide officer pension plans. And Ryan got a refund of $235,500 when his pension was foreclosed, the amount he personally donated during his more than 30 years in public office.
Governor Rod Blagojevich, who was impeached and convicted of massive corruption, also lost his state pension, although he remained eligible for a federal pension after serving six years in the House of Representatives.
Madigan has not been convicted of any crime, but has started collecting pensions.
After serving in Congress for more than 50 years, Madigan receives an annual pension of $153,426, just a few thousand dollars more than Mr. Mapes receives in his state retirement check. When Mapes was fired, he was being paid over $200,000 a year.
Madigan’s salary is about half what it was when he lost his chair in 2021. But as a former member of Congress, Madigan has one of the most favorable pension plans in the state, which, combined with his extraordinary tenure, means he will receive a larger pension each year. Despite being paid less than Mapes.
A few years ago, the Congressional Retirement System, which includes elected representatives statewide, changed its policy on when to stop paying pensions.
Unlike other state pension plans, this plan for legislators and statewide-elected officials will pay if there is a conviction or guilty plea, rather than waiting for a verdict where the conviction is considered final. to actually stop annuity payments.
If the same standard (suspension upon conviction rather than after sentencing) was introduced into the unelected retirement civil service system in which Mr. Mapes participates, payments to Mr. Mapes’ bank account would not have been possible until the January sentencing. It is not yet running and would have already been stopped.
rlong@chicagotribune.com
jmeisner@chicagotribune.com
