(The Center Square) – Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan has completed his first day of testimony at the longtime Chicago Democrat’s corruption trial at the Everett McKinley Dirksen U.S. Courthouse.
The courtroom crowd grew quickly when defense attorney Dan Collins called Madigan to testify Tuesday afternoon. Former Illinois Govs. Rod Blagojevich and George Ryan did not testify at their corruption trials, but the former speaker walked up to the witness stand with no apparent hesitation after waiving his right to not testify.
Jurors got a taste of Madigan’s confidence earlier in the trial, when prosecutors played a videotaped meeting with real estate developers at Madigan’s private law firm, Madigan & Getzendanner, on Sept. 4, 2018.
“We don’t take a second seat to anybody in terms of the quality and the results that we get,” Madigan said as heard on the secret recording.
Madigan testified that all types of people asked him for help and he tried to help people when they asked. He said he never used his public office for private gain.
Collins asked Madigan about his dealings with ComEd over the years. The ex-speaker said he called out the utility for “deceit.” Later, Madigan described his support for Smart Grid legislation in 2011 over a veto by then-Gov. Pat Quinn.
Madigan detailed the political differences he had with former Gov. Bruce Rauner’s turnaround agenda. He said his relationship with Rauner was “toxic.” When asked by Collins, Madigan emphasized the importance of maintaining support with Madigan’s Democratic Party base.
Collins asked Madigan about AT&T’s desire for legislation to provide carrier-of-last-resort (COLR) relief. Madigan said there was widespread Democratic support for COLR relief. He also said he never agreed to meet with then AT&T President Paul La Schiazza.
When asked about former Chicago Alderman Frank Olivo allegedly having a do-nothing job with a ComEd contractor, Madigan said he was “very angry” at Olivo when he later found out.
Prosecutors allege that ComEd and AT&T Illinois gave out no-work or little-work jobs and contract work to those loyal to Madigan to get legislation passed that would benefit them in Springfield. Four ComEd executives and lobbyists were convicted last year in a related trial, and ComEd itself agreed to pay $200 million in fines as part of a deferred prosecution agreement with prosecutors.
Madigan served in the Illinois House from 1971 to 2021. He was speaker for all but two years between 1983 and 2021. Madigan also chaired the Democratic Party of Illinois from 1998 to 2021.
Madigan said he did not ask ComEd to hire former precinct captain Ray Nice, but he gave Nice’s name to McClain. Madigan again said it made him angry to hear that Nice allegedly did no work and said, “He should have worked.”
When asked about former Madigan precinct worker Ed Moody looking for work, Madigan said he asked McClain if he could be helpful. Madigan contradicted Moody’s earlier testimony about a meeting the two men had near Madigan’s home. Madigan said he did not have the conversation Moody described.
Madigan said he tried to help former state Rep. Michael Zalewski, D-Chicago, find a job but did not expect anything in return.
The former speaker said public officials and others would come to him for assistance finding jobs as often as once a week.
Regarding former state Rep. Eddie Acevedo, D-Chicago, Madigan said the General Assembly’s Latino caucus chose Acevedo to be assistant majority leader. Madigan confirmed that Acevedo had a drinking problem, as other witnesses testified. He said he didn’t remember if he ever did anything for Acevedo’s sons. When Acevedo sought help in getting a lobbying business started, Madigan said he referred him to McClain. When asked how Acevedo looked when he testified last month, Madigan said Acevedo had “greatly deteriorated.”
Madigan said he had a difficult time with Blagojevich, saying it was a “memorable experience.” Madigan suggested that Blagojevich may have thought Lisa Madigan might challenge him in the next primary election for governor.
Madigan earlier described his Catholic upbringing on Chicago’s Southwest Side and said there was never any question in his house that he would attend the University of Notre Dame. He described working at a park nursery and the importance of labor unions in his family. Madigan said his father would interrogate him at the end of the work day. He said he learned hard work and attention to detail from his father and also said his father was involved in Democratic Party politics.
While also attending law school at Loyola University in Chicago, Madigan said he began working as an assistant to the city’s 13th Ward alderman. Also while in law school, Madigan said he got to know then-Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley. Madigan said his first job as a lawyer was in the city’s law department, and after that he worked as a hearing examiner for the Illinois Commerce Commission.
When Collins asked Madigan how old he was, the former speaker said he was a “young 82.”
Madigan described his early years in the legislature and getting to know longtime state Rep. Zeke Giorgi, D-Rockford. Madigan said Giorgi became his best friend in Springfield.
Madigan also described meeting his wife Shirley, who had gone through a “difficult” divorce. He said he decided he would treat her daughter, Lisa, as if he was her biological father. Lisa Madigan later served as Attorney General of Illinois from 2003-2019.
Madigan said Illinois House rules changed during the two years Republican Lee Daniels was speaker. Madigan said he and his fellow Democrats complained about the rules for two years but decided to keep the rules when Madigan became speaker again. The House rules under Madigan were long a point of contention with Republicans.
Madigan waived his right to not testify Tuesday afternoon after Judge Blakey and attorneys held discussions about Madigan potentially forfeiting his ability to testify or not testify at a potential future proceeding. In the event of a mistrial, Blakey said, Madigan could make a different decision.
Government attorney Amar Bhachu said prosecutors did not agree with Blakey’s ruling, saying he felt that evidence presented during Madigan’s testifimony should be admissible in a potential trial later.
Blakey advised Madigan’s attorneys that there was still some “provisional risk” that he could forfeit his right to not testify at a future proceeding.
During an afternoon break, Blakey asked Madigan what he thought of the Sugar Bowl game won by Notre Dame. The two talked briefly about Fighting Irish football and the team’s chances against Penn State in the Orange Bowl on Thursday.
In a call recorded Nov. 14, 2017, McClain told then-Chicago Alderman Daniel Solis not to watch a Notre Dame game with Madigan.
“He’s crazy. I mean, he’s yelling and screaming all the time, so you don’t wanna go, you don’t wanna sit in the living room with him and watch a Notre Dame game. He gets pretty passionate about it,” McClain told Solis.
Former state Rep. Greg Harris, D-Chicago, finished testifying Tuesday morning. In a wiretapped call on Nov. 30, 2018, McClain advised Harris to ask Madigan for the opportunity to become majority leader.
“So Greg, I think it is appropriate for you to call up himself and say, ‘I’m willing to come out to the ward office or meet you downtown at your law office and I’d like to see you for a few minutes,’” McClain told Harris.
Madigan and codefendant McClain have pleaded not guilty to 23 counts of bribery, racketeering and official misconduct. McClain waived his right to testify last month.
A juror sent a note to Judge Blakey asking if there was an update on the trial’s estimated length. Blakey told the jury he expected them to begin deliberations on Jan. 27 but told attorneys separately that he was not confident in their estimated timeline.
United States of America v. Madigan et al is scheduled to resume Wednesday in Chicago.
