USA vs. Timothy Mapes

Timothy Mapes walks out of the Dirksen Federal Courthouse after being sentenced, Monday, Feb. 12, 2024.

Power brokers, political insiders asked judge to go easy on convicted top aide to Michael Madigan

Timothy Mapes was sentenced to 2½ years in prison for lying to a grand jury. Now we know who wrote letters to the judge on his behalf.

By Dave McKinney | WBEZ

USA vs. Timothy Mapes

Convicted ex-Michael Madigan aide will have his pension suspended

Timothy Mapes was convicted of lying to a federal grand jury as part of an effort to thwart the feds’ probe into former House Speaker Michael Madigan.

By Dave McKinney | WBEZ

Tim Mapes walks out of the Dirksen Federal Courthouse after being sentenced on Monday.

USA vs. Timothy Mapes

2.5 years in prison for Tim Mapes, ex-aide to Michael Madigan. 'Your loyalty was gravely misguided.'

Federal prosecutors asked the judge to give Mapes as many as five years in prison, arguing that his lies “were calculated to thwart the government’s sprawling investigation of a series of unlawful schemes calculated to corrupt the government of this state at the highest levels.”

By Jon Seidel

Flanked by attorneys, Tim Mapes, former chief of staff to Illinois’ former House Speaker Michael Madigan, walks out of the Dirksen Federal Courthouse, after being convicted of perjury and attempted obstruction of justice, Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023.

USA vs. Timothy Mapes

Madigan’s ex-chief of staff should get up to 5 years in prison for lies ‘calculated to thwart’ probe into former boss, feds say

But lawyers for Tim Mapes argue their client should be sentenced to time served, supervised release and “significant” community service.

By Jon Seidel

USA vs. Timothy Mapes

Three women who brought #MeToo allegations against Madigan circle find relief and hope in guilty verdict of ex-top aide

The women went public with accusations of harassment, retaliation and cover-up by Madigan and those around him. Although the trial focused on charges that Mapes lied to a grand jury, the women say the verdict will still send a message to other victims.

By Tina Sfondeles and Jon Seidel

Tim Mapes Dirksen Federal Building Chicago Illinois

USA vs. Timothy Mapes

Jury takes 5 hours to convict Madigan’s ex-top aide of perjury, attempted obstruction of justice: ‘This should stand as a clear message’

Tim Mapes, the former chief of staff to onetime Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, is the seventh person to be convicted by a federal jury in Chicago this year as a result of public corruption investigations.

By Jon Seidel

Tim Mapes chief of staff Illinois Speaker Michael Madigan

USA vs. Timothy Mapes

Jury begins deliberations in perjury trial of ex-top aide to Madigan after feds hammer at ‘brazen’ and ‘preposterous’ lies

Tim Mapes, longtime chief of staff to one of Illinois’ most powerful politicians, listened as a federal prosecutor accused him of flaunting his oath to tell the truth, committing crimes and choosing “Team Madigan” as a grand jury closed in on his old boss.

By Jon Seidel

Tim Mapes, who was chief of staff to indicted former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan leaving court after a hearing in July.

USA vs. Timothy Mapes

Wife of ex-top aide to Madigan says he was ‘very sullen, very depressed ... as if he was lost’ after being sacked

Witnesses in the perjury trial of Tim Mapes have said they found his forced resignation in June 2018 to be surprising, unexpected, traumatic. But Tuesday, jurors heard Mapes’ wife describe how he handled being fired amid a #MeToo wave at the Capitol.

By Jon Seidel

USA vs. Timothy Mapes

Prosecutors rest case in perjury trial of ex-top aide to Madigan after jurors hear more secret recordings

Defense lawyers for Tim Mapes are expected to call witnesses of their own over the next day or so. They said they weren’t sure whether Mapes would take the stand in his own defense, though it seems unlikely.

By Jon Seidel

Tim Mapes, former chief of staff to Michael Madigan, exits the Dirksen Federal Building flanked by lawyers after the first day of trial for perjury and obstruction of justice charges, Monday, Aug. 7, 2023.

USA vs. Timothy Mapes

Feds nearly done laying out perjury case against ex-top aide to Michael Madigan

Jurors hear additional recordings that seemed to show the close relationship between Tim Mapes and Michael McClain.

By Jon Seidel

USA vs. Timothy Mapes

Feds pile on more secret recordings allegedly showing ex-top aide to Madigan lied to grand jury. ‘Will you be wearing your big boy pants?’

Prosecutors have used a monthslong wiretap of Michael Madigan confidant Michael McClain’s phone to make their case that Tim Mapes lied in 2021 and tried to block the feds’ aggressive investigation of Madigan and McClain.

By Jon Seidel

Tim Mapes, former chief of staff to Michael Madigan, is charged with perjury and attempted obstruction of justice for allegedly trying to block an investigation of his boss.

USA vs. Timothy Mapes

Jurors hear secret FBI recordings of ex-top aide to Madigan, then hear him allegedly lying to a grand jury

Tim Mapes is on trial for perjury and attempted obstruction of justice for allegedly trying to block the feds’ investigation of Michael Madigan and Michael McClain, who face criminal charges of their own.

By Jon Seidel

USA vs. Timothy Mapes

As Madigan faced threat to his power, aide told others to ‘play hardball and quit doing this nicey/nicey stuff’

The email, sent by Michael McClain to Tim Mapes and others close to Madigan, was used by prosecutors in Mapes’ perjury trial to undercut the argument that Mapes didn’t remember McClain doing tasks or assignments for Madigan at the time.

By Jon Seidel

USA vs. Timothy Mapes

‘I do not think we should talk in person or on the phone,’ ex-top aide to Madigan was warned in email about federal probe

The email and others appeared to underscore the feds’ contention that Tim Mapes was well aware of a federal investigation and its key points before he wound up in front of the grand jury and drew a blank on some questions.

By Jon Seidel

USA vs. Timothy Mapes

Madigan was ‘different from any other politician I’ve seen,’ veteran FBI agent testifies at perjury trial of ex-top aide

Agent Brendan O’Leary told jurors that Michael Madigan depended on “his tight inner circle,” which is why the FBI was so interested in hearing what his longtime chief of staff, Tim Mapes, would say in front of a grand jury.

By Jon Seidel

Tim Mapes Dirksen Federal Court Building Chicago

USA vs. Timothy Mapes

Defense in perjury trial of ex-Madigan top aide begins with talk of high school reunions, old crushes and a faulty memory

Defense attorneys argued that Tim Mapes did not lie to a grand jury in 2021 but didn’t know or couldn’t remember the answers to certain questions he was asked under oath.

By Jon Seidel

USA vs. Timothy Mapes

Jury of 6 men, 6 women selected as perjury trial gets underway for ex-top aide to Madigan

Assistant U.S. Attorney Julia Schwartz has signaled one witness will likely be former state Rep. Greg Harris, who was secretly recorded by the FBI speaking with a longtime Madigan ally about becoming majority leader.

By Jon Seidel

USA vs. Timothy Mapes

The 7 alleged lies that could send Michael Madigan’s ex-chief of staff Tim Mapes to prison

His lawyers say he testified truthfully for hours in response to questions from prosecutors who asked more than 650 questions.

By Jon Seidel

USA vs. Timothy Mapes

Michael Madigan’s ex-chief of staff once seemed to know everything, except on the witness stand — now, he’s headed to trial for perjury

Tim Mapes goes on trial Monday on charges of perjury and attempted obstruction of justice for his alleged bid to block the criminal investigation of the former House speaker and of Springfield insider Michael McClain.

By Jon Seidel

Timothy Mapes, former chief of staff for ex-Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, listens to lawmakers debate at the Capitol in Springfield, Ill.

USA vs. Timothy Mapes

Ex-top aide to Madigan kept the former House speaker’s lawyer informed about meeting with FBI agents, prosecutors say

Details about the case against Timothy Mapes were revealed in a 65-page document filed by prosecutors early Tuesday morning, four weeks ahead of Mapes’ trial on perjury and attempted obstruction of justice charges.

By Jon Seidel