(The Center Square) – Former Chicago precinct captain Ed Moody has returned to the witness stand at the bribery and racketeering trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and codefendant Michael McClain.
Moody testified Wednesday that he understood he was receiving monthly payments from McClain and other ComEd contractors because of the political work he was doing for Madigan.
Moody added that Madigan told him in late 2011 or early 2012 he would lose the consulting contract if he stopped doing political work for Madigan. Moody then explained how he understood Madigan’s words.
“Do the political work, keep the contract. Don’t do the political work, don’t keep the contract,” Moody testified.
In cross-examination with Madigan defense attorney Tom Breen Thursday morning, Moody testified that he followed his twin brother Fred’s lead when they did door-to-door campaigning. Moody said he and his brother would tailor their presentation to each voter, depending on which issues he felt would be important to them.
Moody also said it was important to be a Madigan ally.
In addition to serving as a campaign worker for more than 25 years, Moody was a Cook County commissioner from 2016 to 2018, and he worked as Cook County recorder of deeds from 2018 to 2020.
Moody affirmed Wednesday that he was testifying with immunity as a witness cooperating with the U.S. government.
Madigan and McClain are charged with 23 counts of bribery, racketeering and official misconduct in connection with a scheme which federal prosecutors called “Madigan Enterprise.” According to the government, Madigan and McClain used Madigan’s public office to secure little- to do-nothing jobs for their associates by advancing legislation favorable to ComEd.
ComEd admitted in 2020 that it sought to influence Madigan by placing his associates into jobs requiring little or no work. ComEd agreed to pay a fine of $200 million and and cooperate with the federal investigation in exchange for an agreement that prosecutors drop a bribery charge against the utility.
