(The Center Square) – Jurors have been deliberating for more than a week at the bribery and racketeering trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan.
In Courtroom 1203 at the Everett McKinley Dirksen U.S. Courthouse on Wednesday afternoon, Judge John Robert Blakey commented that the jury was “super quiet today.” Deliberations began a week earlier, on the afternoon of Wednesday, January 29th.
Madigan was indicted on March 2, 2022, in connection with a scheme federal prosecutors called, “The Madigan Enterprise.” He pleaded not guilty to 23 corruption-related counts. Codefendant Michael McClain is charged with six counts and also pleaded not guilty.
The trial began Oct. 8, 2024, with jury selection.
Chicago attorney Sam Adam Jr. said the trial changed when Madigan made the decision to testify.
“Once a person takes the stand, there are many different witnesses that can come on to rebut what he has said, but if he doesn’t take the stand, those rebuttal witnesses can’t be called,” Adam told The Center Square.
Adam defended former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich during the Chicago Democrat’s first corruption trial in 2010.
Prosecutors say 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. The utility company 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 & Getzendanner.
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.