(The Center Square) – U.S. government attorneys have resumed closing arguments at former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s corruption trial in Chicago.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Julia Schwartz picked up Thursday where she left off Wednesday by discussing the Count 2 conspiracy charge against Madigan.
Judge John Robert Blakey overruled an objection by Madigan attorney Dan Collins less than a minute into Schwartz’ presentation.
Schwartz promptly played a recording of Madigan codefendant Michael McClain pushing then-ComEd executive Fidel Marquez to give more work to Reyes Kurson, a law firm headed by longtime Madigan ally Victor Reyes.
Schwartz explained how the work for Reyes Kurson was connected to “reapportions” and ComEd’s legislative agenda.
“This was about Madigan, about legislation,” Schwartz argued.
In the next recording Schwartz played, Reyes asked McClain where he could drop off campaign contributions for Madigan.
“Madigan knew he had the keys to ComEd’s legislative success,” Schwartz said.
Schwartz played two recordings of Madigan pushing McClain to continue pushing for Juan Ochoa, who was CEO of Chicago’s Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority at the time, to be appointed to ComEd’s board of directors.
In subsequent calls, McClain pushed then-ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore to get Ochoa appointed and updated Madigan on Ochoa’s status.
Pramaggiore updated Marquez, who suggested it would “be huge” for Madigan.
“That’s what this is about. Greasing the speaker,” Schwartz 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. AT&T Illinois agreed to pay $23 million in its deferred prosecution agreement with prosecutors.
Prosecutors also allege that Madigan used his position of power to direct business to his private law firm.
Before the jury entered the courtroom Thursday morning, Madigan’s attorneys objected to the government’s argument that ComEd’s payments to Madigan’s campaign workers kept Madigan from having to use his campaign funds to pay them.
“We have never alleged or suggested in our argument that a campaign contribution is a bribe,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Amar Bhachu said.
“To make a correction would suggest that we said something inaccurate in closing, and that’s not the case,” Schwartz added.
Blakey said the defense did not make a timely objection and asked prosecutors to clarify their argument but did not agree to read his instruction a second time.
Prosecutors said they expected to finish their closing arguments Thursday afternoon. If time permits, Collins would then begin his closing statements on behalf of the former speaker. McClain’s defense team is slated to follow Collins’ closing statements. Blakey told the jury to expect a full day of court on Friday.
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.
McClain was a longtime lobbyist who previously served as a state representative in Illinois’ 48th district from 1973 to 1982.