trial

Jury begins hearing testimony in former IL House Speaker Mike Madigan corruption trial

Prosecutors seek to establish Madigan's power as speaker of the House

Wednesday, October 23, 2024 3:37AM

Jury begins hearing testimony in Madigan trialFormer Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan's corruption trial continued Tuesday with jurors hearing testimony,

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Testimony has begun in the corruption trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan Tuesday.

Tuesday in many ways mirrored the first full day of testimony in last year's ComEd trial, which was, at the time, seen as a preview to Madigan's.

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All four of the defendants in that case were found guilty of trying to bribe the former speaker.

One of those defendants is a defendant in Madigan's case, as well. And that is Michael Madigan's close friend and former lobbyist, Mike McClain.

His sentencing is pending.

"Mike McClain acted with hope, not with intent to bribe, exchange or trade favors for votes," McClain's defense attorney John Mitchell said during the continuation of opening statements Tuesday morning. "The evidence will show Mike McClain was a lobbyist, and, like all lobbyists, he understood if you want to get access to a politician you need to develop a relationship of trust, a favor by itself is not a bribe. A favor is a favor."

The 76-year-old is, along with Madigan, facing bribery and racketeering charges contained within a 117-page superseding indictment.

McClain is accused of shielding the former speaker by acting as an intermediary, calling on corporate executives at ComEd and AT&T to provide no-work jobs and contracts to Madigan's political allies.

Executives from both utility companies have already faced trials of their own. In May of last year, the so-called ComEd Four, including McClain, were found guilty of bribing Madigan. And just last month, a mistrial was declared in the case of former AT&T Illinois President Paul La Schiazza. La Schiazza was also accused of bribing Madigan.

But Tuesday's court proceedings were less about going into the details of the government's case against Madigan and more about establishing his power as speaker of the Illinois House: the so-called Velvet Hammer, who could make or break a piece of legislation, writing the House rules and substituting committee members as he saw fit in order to push his agenda forward.

Called to testify were former Democratic House Reps. Carol Sente and Scott Drury. Both testified that their legislative careers were negatively impacted or cut short after falling afoul of the speaker for various reasons.

Sente, a business owner and former representative in the Illinois General Assembly, testified first.

She worked directly with Madigan and Tim Mapes, and spoke to Madigan's control over legislature passed in her time as a representative.

Testimony continues Wednesday, with former Majority Leader Lou Lang expected to say, as he has in two previous trials, that it was Madigan via McClain who called on him to resign late in 2018.

The trial could last three months.