(The Center Square) – Prosecutors are focusing on real estate developments in Chicago’s 25th Ward at the corruption trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and his codefendant, former state Representative and lobbyist Michael McClain.
With former 25th Ward Alderman Daniel Solis in the witness box on Monday, government attorney Diane MacArthur played undercover videos and audio recordings of meetings with project developers in Chicago’s Chinatown and West Loop neighborhoods.
Solis resumed his direct testimony with MacArthur on Tuesday morning at the Everett McKinley Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in Chicago’s Loop.
Solis agreed to secretly record conversations after he began cooperating with FBI investigators in June 2016.
MacArthur played a recording of a conversation Solis and McClain held before meeting with a group of Chinatown developers at Solis’ City Hall office. During the conversation, McClain advised Solis not to mention Madigan’s name during the meeting.
McClain also described Madigan as an avid Notre Dame fan and told Solis that “you don’t want to watch” a Notre Dame game with him.
Before Solis and the jury entered the courtroom Tuesday, Judge John Robert Blakey held a private meeting with prosecutors and defense attorneys.
Madigan and McClain are charged with 23 counts of bribery, racketeering and official misconduct.