Ray Long

Ray Long is a former Chicago Tribune investigative reporter, a two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist with experience at state Capitol, City Hall, courts and county beats. He covered two governors who went to prison and a state senator who went to the White House. He wrote The House That Madigan Built: The Record Run of Illinois' Velvet Hammer."

Senate President Don Harmon leads other state senators into the House chamber before Gov. JB Pritzker's State of the State address, Feb. 19, 2025, at the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

Illinois Senate President Don Harmon improperly accepted $4 million in campaign cash, election authorities say

April 9, 2025 at 6:12 p.m.

Following a Tribune inquiry, Illinois election officials told Senate President Don Harmon he accepted $4 million more in political cash than allowed.

Former Ald. Daniel Solis arrives at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse, Nov. 25, 2024, to take the stand in the Michael Madigan corruption trial. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)

Feds make long-promised move to drop charges against ex-Ald. Daniel Solis

April 4, 2025 at 4:27 p.m.

The U.S. attorney's office officially has moved to drop the criminal case against high-profile government mole Danny Solis, the ex-alderman who played key roles in federal prosecutions that brought down...

Former House Speaker Michael Madigan, from left, walks with his lawyers Robert Stanley, Lari Dierks and Thomas Breen at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in Chicago on July 16, 2024. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)

‘Michael Madigan is not corrupt’: Attorneys for ex-speaker want convictions tossed over alleged trial missteps

March 31, 2025 at 3:34 p.m.

Lawyers for convicted former House Speaker Michael Madigan are arguing for a new trial in his corruption case, saying prosecutors failed to prove the then-powerful Democrat knew about a scheme...

State Sen. Emil Jones III sits in the chamber on Jan. 8, 2025, at the Illinois Capitol building in Springfield. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

‘You can raise me five grand’: New details emerge in bribery case against state Sen. Emil Jones III

February 19, 2025 at 3:45 p.m.

New details were revealed this week as state Sen. Emil Jones' April 1 trial date on bribery charges fast approaches.

Former Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn holds one of his old petitions while speaking about his recommendations for ethics reforms on Feb. 17, 2025, at the Allegro Hotel. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

Ex-Gov. Pat Quinn calls on Gov. JB Pritzker to push ethics reforms after Michael Madigan conviction

February 18, 2025 at 7:58 a.m.

Citing ex-Speaker Michael Madigan's conviction, former Gov. Pat Quinn called on Gov. JB Pritzker to toughen Illinois ethics laws.

Acting U.S. Attorney Morris Pasqual talks with media following Madigan’s guilty verdict, at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse on Feb. 12, 2025. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)

Mixed verdict in Madigan case reflects a new, harder reality for federal prosecutors

February 17, 2025 at 6:37 a.m.

An overall recent trend in Supreme Court rulings has raised the bar for convictions in white-collar crime cases, such as public corruption.

Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, accompanied by his daughter Nicole, leaves the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse after jurors found him guilty on 10 counts in his racketeering case, on Feb. 12, 2025. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)

Madigan case showcases pitfalls of Illinois political culture

February 16, 2025 at 5:00 a.m.

Former House Speaker Michael Madigan's epic corruption conviction last week drew more than the usual level of outrage from public officials long accustomed to watching one of their own go...

Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan exits after the jury delivered a partial verdict in his and former lobbyist Michael McClain's corruption trial at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse on Feb. 12, 2025. (Audrey Richardson/Chicago Tribune)

Ex-Speaker Michael Madigan’s state pension suspended following conviction

February 14, 2025 at 2:31 p.m.

Lawmakers convicted of felonies tied to their government jobs, like ex-House Speaker Michael Madigan, are banned from receiving legislative pensions.

Tim Nessner talks outside his Chicago home about his experience as foreman of the jury in former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s federal corruption trial after guilty verdicts were reached on several counts on Feb. 12, 2025. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)

‘Wow, we were part of something really big’: Madigan jurors on how they reached their verdict

February 13, 2025 at 6:02 p.m.

The foreman of the jury that rendered a split decision in the landmark trial of former House Speaker Michael Madigan said Wednesday that the panel was deadlocked 11-1 in favor...

Former Illinois Speaker of the House Michael Madigan, flanked by daughters Nicole, left, and Tiffany, leaves the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse after jurors found him guilty on 10 counts in his racketeering case, Feb. 12, 2025. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)

No sweep for either side, but Madigan jury’s split verdict still offers ‘historic’ corruption conviction

June 14, 2025 at 6:53 a.m.

A federal jury Wednesday convicted former House Speaker Michael Madigan, once the most powerful person in Illinois politics, of bribery conspiracy charges in a wide-ranging case alleging he ran his...

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