(The Center Square) – Former Chicago Alderman Daniel Solis has completed direct testimony and is expected to face cross-examination Monday at the bribery and racketeering trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and codefendant Michael McClain.
On Wednesday, Solis continued testifying about a proposed development in Chicago’s Chinatown neighborhood. The project involved a parcel of land that includes a parking lot along Wentworth Avenue near Cermak Avenue.
In an undercover recording introduced by government attorney Diane MacArthur from September 2018, Solis expressed concern to Madigan that then-Illinois state Sen. Martin Sandoval, D-Cicero, remained an obstacle to the project. Madigan mentioned state Rep. Theresa Mah, D-Chicago, as possibly being opposed as well.
Solis is heard on the recording saying that “the mayor” owed him money. Solis testified that he had an agreement with then-Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel to give campaign money to a candidate on the mayor’s behalf. In return, the mayor would give campaign money to Solis in the future.
Solis also testified that Madigan reached out to him about a proposed development at One South Wacker in downtown Chicago. Solis agreed to call developer Harry Skydell to suggest that Skydell consider Madigan’s private law firm for the property’s real estate tax work.
In another call with Madigan, Solis brought up a state board appointment he was interested in. Solis had testified earlier that he was not interested in the board appointment, but it was part of what he was asked to do in cooperation with federal investigators.
Solis indicated on the recording with Madigan that there could be a delay with someone “holding” the board position. Madigan referred to Democratic gubernatorial candidate J.B. Pritzker and answered that “When I sit down with Pritzker, I’ll tell him, ‘This is what we’re gonna do.’”
Pritzker was elected governor of Illinois about two months later.
In a recording dated Aug. 2, 2018, Madigan explained potential board appointments for Solis, then Madigan asked Solis for help with his son Andrew’s business.
“You got Andrew a meeting with, is it?” Madigan asked.
“The Resurrection Project, yes,” Solis answered.
“After the meeting, Andrew tried to follow up and never got return calls,” Madigan said.
“I’ll talk to him,” Solis said.
“And just ask him. Get Andrew something,” Madigan said.
Before the jury was seated Wednesday morning, defense attorneys for both Madigan and McClain objected to potential testimony about a meeting involving former Madigan chief of staff Tim Mapes and federal investigators.
Prosecutor Julia Schwartz argued that the relevance involved not what Mapes did or didn’t know, but that the conversation would be a setup for the calls which would follow the testimony. Prosecutor Amar Bhachu added that Mapes then had a conversation with McClain about Mapes having contact with federal agents and McClain then reporting to Madigan in what the indictment refers to as “Madigan Enterprise.”
Madigan defense attorney Dan Collins objected to Solis’ testimony Tuesday about meetings he did not attend and said that this information was not disclosed in advance. MacArthur responded that the government did in fact introduce the information and referred to Solis’ statements before the grand jury before the trial. Collins objected in particular to the introduction of well-known Chicago lawyer Jack George when Collins said the defense had not been made aware in advance. Collins insisted there is a big difference between Solis’ pre-cooperation episodes and post-cooperation episodes.
Collins insisted that the agent notes to prepare Solis for cross-examination be turned over to the defense. Bhachu pointed out that eight years of notes from a cooperating witness would be a lot to produce and offered to confer with Collins to “bridge the gap.”
Earlier, MacArthur suggested that she only had “about an hour” left of direct testimony with Solis. Blakey indicated that he expected cross-examination to last well into Monday.
Collins responded, “It’s a long cross, judge.”
Blakey announced that the court would be in recess while the attorneys worked out the issues.
After the attorneys conversed, MacArthur told the judge that the parties had agreed to a list of questions which MacArthur could proceed with.
Blakey expressed his appreciation and said the level of attorneys was “just outstanding” and added that the lawyering was “just amazing.”
The jury was seated at 10:18 a.m. and dismissed at 11:48 a.m. for Thanksgiving. Before releasing the jury, the judge encouraged jurors to take a moment to count their blessings, to think about why they are thankful, and to perhaps make the world a better place.
United States of America v. Madigan et al is scheduled to resume Monday morning at the Everett McKinley Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in Chicago.
