A defense attorney has presented a statement in lieu of testimony from Gov. J.B. Pritzker at the corruption trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan.
Lari Dierks, a member of Madigan’s defense team, read a stipulation saying that if Pritzker were called to testify, he would say he did not recall meeting with Madigan on Dec. 4, 2018.
The stipulation also read that Pritzker would testify that he did not recall Madigan discussing or recommending former Chicago Alderman Daniel Solis or his daughter, Maya Solis, orally or in writing, for any position on any state of Illinois board.
Before Dierks read a series of stipulations Wednesday, lobbyist Heather Wier Vaught reported to the witness stand.
Wier Vaught said she served in the speaker’s office from 2006 to 2018 and was Madigan’s chief legal counsel from late 2011 or early 2012 until 2016.
Wier Vaught testified that she worked as a lawyer for the Democratic Party of Illinois from 2008 to 2021. She said she also worked as an attorney for Madigan’s 13th Ward Democratic organization in Chicago, the Illinois House Democratic Majority and Friends of Michael J. Madigan.
In addition, Wier Vaught said she represented Madigan in her personal capacity as a lawyer.
Wier Vaught said there was bipartisan concern in 2016 over Exelon, ComEd’s parent, potentially closing two power plants in Illinois, but she said there was essentially no relationship between Madigan and then-Gov. Bruce Rauner.
“Basically, we were in the middle of a political war,” Wier Vaught said.
During negotiations over the Future Energy Jobs Act (FEJA) with Exelon, ComEd and elected officials, Wier Vaught said Madigan co-defendant Michael McClain was making her “crazy.” Wier Vaught said Madigan then told her to treat McClain like a lobbyist.
FEJA passed in December of 2016.
“I think there were a few different celebrations,” Wier Vaught said.
Wier Vaught later became an external lobbyist for ComEd for about a year.
“It may have been less than a year,” Wier Vaught said.
Madigan and McClain are charged with 23 counts of bribery, racketeering and official misconduct in connection with a scheme that federal prosecutors referred to as “Madigan Enterprise.”
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 in 2023 in a related trial, and ComEd itself agreed to pay $200 million in fines as part of a deferred prosecution agreement with prosecutors. Madigan also is accused of using his position of power to steer business to his law firm.
On the stand, Wier Vaught discussed AT&T’s efforts to push carrier-of-last-resort (COLR) legislation. Wier Vaught said she urged higher 911 fees to be included with the measure, because a separate bill calling for higher fees would be unpopular with lawmakers.
Wier Vaught said she met regularly, “once or twice a year,” with Madigan and his private law partner, Vincent “Bud” Getzendanner.
Wier Vaught said they would discuss potential legislative issues involving any of the firm’s clients.
Wier Vaught said Madigan frequently made job recommendations but did not demand that people hire individuals he had recommended for jobs.
In cross-examination with Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane MacArthur, Wier Vaught said she continued to advise Madigan after she left the speaker’s office and participated in political discussions with Madigan, members of his staff, and McClain.
MacArthur asked Wier Vaught about her activities when she became aware of news reports that former Chicago Alderman Solis had been cooperating with federal investigators.
Wier Vaught said she met with former Madigan aide Will Cousineau around the time investigators searched McClain’s residence.
“I recall talking to him about the raid on Mr. McClain’s house,” Wier Vaught said.
MacArthur asked if Wier Vaught’s lobbying work for AT&T overlapped her time lobbying for ComEd.
“I believed I lobbied for both at the same time,” Wier Vaught said.
In its deferred prosecution agreement with federal prosecutors, ComEd admitted it paid $1.3 million over nine years to Madigan associates for do-nothing or do-little jobs and contracts.
In 2022, AT&T agreed to pay $23 million as part of a deferred prosecution agreement with the government.
Earlier Wednesday, FBI Special Agent Ryan McDonald returned to the witness stand briefly for the third time during the trial.
McDonald answered questions about statements Solis made regarding contact Solis had with a member of the press. McDonald previously testified in October and November on behalf of the government.
Connie Mixon, professor of Political Science and director of the Urban Studies Program at Elmhurst University, said prosecutors are making their case with a lot of circumstantial evidence.
“It’s harder to make the case that there was actually a racketeering enterprise, that there was, as you said, a direct bribe,” Mixon told The Center Square.
St. Xavier University Professor David Parker said the Illinois House speaker would be expected to have influence in many areas.
“Networking, the Madigan network versus the Madigan machine, you know, you’ve got the machine at work,” Parker told The Center Square.
Parker said the speaker’s power wasn’t really being used if people were not forced to hire his law firm, but perhaps the argument would change if there was apprehension.
“Do you really fear, are you apprehensive of … was there apprehension that if they didn’t play ball, if they didn’t go along with things, there would be unfavorable consequences,” Parker said.
Madigan 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.
McClain was a longtime lobbyist who previously served as a state representative in Illinois’ 48th district from 1973 to 1982.
The trial is scheduled to continue Thursday at the Everett McKinley Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in Chicago. Closing arguments are expected to begin next Wednesday, January 22.
