Illinois state Rep. Michael Madigan announced that he plans to resign from the Illinois House at the end of this month, The Chicago Tribune reported.
Madigan has represented a Southwest Side district for a half-centurythe majority of that time in the role as the powerful speaker.
Madigan was dethroned in January as speaker as a federal corruption probe grew closer, with Commonwealth Edison admitting in federal court last year that it engaged in an extended bribery scheme aimed at currying his favor. Madigan has not been charged and has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing or knowledge of the scheme.
After Madiganwho had been House speaker since in 1983 save two years of Republican control in the mid-1990sfailed to garner the necessary 60 votes from fellow House Democrats to win another term, the caucus elected state Rep. Emanuel "Chris" Welch to replace him.
Gov. JB Pritzker said in a statement, "Over his decades in office, he shepherded through some of the most consequential changes to our state: bringing about the legalization of gay marriage, fighting on the frontlines for workers' rights, raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour, expanding access to voting and protecting women's reproductive rights.
"The people of Illinois have much to be grateful for thanks to his dedicated public service, and the many sacrifices he and his family made to make a difference in our lives. I know how dearly he loves his wife Shirley, their children and grandchildren, and I hope that in this next chapter, his family can begin to make up for lost time."