(The Center Square) – The corruption trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan has resumed in downtown Chicago.
Madigan and codefendant Michael McClain are charged with 23 federal counts of bribery, racketeering and official misconduct. Prosecutors say Madigan and McClain used Madigan’s public office to secure little- to do-nothing jobs for their associates by advancing legislation favorable to ComEd.
Former ComEd executive Fidel Marquez took the witness stand on Tuesday, Nov. 5, and continued direct testimony with prosecutors Tuesday morning Nov. 12.
Soon after the jury was seated at 9:02 a.m., government attorney Amar Bhachu introduced a recording of a conversation in 2019 between Madigan and McClain in which Madigan suggested a job candidate, Vanessa Berrios, for ComEd. Soon after, Bhachu displayed an email from McClain to Marquez in which McClain attached Berrios’ resume and asked if ComEd might be able to hire her. McClain followed up with another email, which led to an interview offer for Berrios.
Berrios is the daughter of former Cook County Assessor and Madigan ally Joe Berrios.
Bhachu also introduced a recording of Madigan asking McClain to find a job for an Illinois Department of Corrections worker named Jeffrey Rush, whose father is then-U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush, D-Chicago.
Madigan explained to McClain that Jeffery Rush had gotten into trouble as a corrections officer by having sexual relations with an inmate. In a separate recording, McClain explained the situation to Marquez and asked if ComEd could hire Jeffery Rush for a few months until Rush could find a permanent job.
Bhachu also introduced an email in which Marquez invited ComEd personnel to a fundraising reception with Madigan that was co-hosted by then-ComEd CEO Joe Dominguez and Chris Crane for the Democratic Party of Illinois. Madigan was chairman of the Democratic Party of Illinois at the time.
Once direct testimony is complete, Marquez is expected to face cross-examination from defense attorneys. Marquez was convicted of bribery in 2020 and agreed to wiretap conversations as he cooperated with government investigators.
