(The Center Square) – The jury is set to resume deliberations Monday at the corruption trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and codefendant Michael McClain in Chicago.
Jurors deliberated for less than five hours Friday at the Everett McKinley Dirksen U.S. Courthouse before they wrapped up for the weekend. Deliberations began last Wednesday afternoon in a trial that began with jury selection Oct. 8.
St. Xavier University Professor David Parker said there is value in the proceedings.
“You know, it brings a lot of things to light. I always say sunlight is the best disinfectant,” Parker told The Center Square.
“So in one way it’s great, you know, it’s showing that there is concern. There are actions being taken. It informs people of what’s been happening, what’s going on, what could be still going on,” Parker said.
The case involves a federal investigation that lasted more than 10 years, with hundreds of recordings and dozens of witnesses.
“On the negative side, if there’s no conviction, people might say it was a waste of resources. You lose credibility going forward in these types of cases,” Parker said.
Madigan has pleaded not guilty to 23 counts of bribery, racketeering and official misconduct. Codefendant Michael McClain is charged with six counts and has also pleaded not guilty.
U.S. government attorneys described Count 1 as an “umbrella charge” for racketeering conspiracy. Madigan is charged alone with Counts 2-7, related to ComEd. He is also charged alone with Counts 8-14 involving a state board position and Counts 15-18 involving the Union West development in Chicago.
Both Madigan and McClain are charged with Counts 19-22 involving a Chinatown land parcel and Count 23, which is related to AT&T. The judge instructed the jury to consider the defendants separately for each count.
Prosecutors allege that ComEd and AT&T Illinois gave out no-work or little-work jobs and contract work to Madigan allies to get legislation passed that would benefit them in Springfield.
In 2023, McClain and three others were convicted in the related ComEd Four trial, and ComEd agreed to pay $200 million in fines as part of a deferred prosecution agreement with prosecutors.
AT&T Illinois agreed to pay $23 million as part of a deferred prosecution agreement in 2022.
Madigan and McClain are also accused of using Madigan’s public office to illegally steer business to his private law firm.
Madigan, D-Chicago, served in the Illinois House from 1971 to 2021 and was speaker for all but two years between 1983 and 2021. He chaired the Democratic Party of Illinois for 23 years. Madigan also led the 13th Ward Democratic Organization and served as 13th Ward committeeman.
McClain, D-Quincy, became a lobbyist after serving in the Illinois House from 1973 to 1982.
