trial

Former state rep., ComEd VP testify in former IL Speaker Mike Madigan trial

Former Majority Leader Lou Lang expected Thursday

Wednesday, October 23, 2024 11:00PM

Former state rep., ComEd VP testify in Madigan trialFormer Majority Leader Lou Lang is expected to take the stand in former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan's corruption trial.

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Testimony continued in former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan's corruption trial Wednesday.

While former Majority Leader Lou Lang was expected to take the stand about his resignation, testimony, much like jury selection, has been slow-going.

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Lang has testified in both the ComEd case and the trial of Madigan's former chief of staff last summer. Both testimonies delved into how Madigan sent Mike McClain to urge Lang to retire from the General Assembly after the speaker's office was warned of a woman who had threatened to go public with sexual harassment allegations if Lang did not step down.

Madigan's voice will likely be heard for the first time during his testimony, in an undercover phone call in which he is heard telling McClain to ask Lang to resign, sooner rather than later.

Lang resigned two months after those phone calls were made, and while this incident has nothing to do with the bribery and racketeering case against the former speaker, his testimony, along with others Wednesday is meant to lay a foundation for the jury.: painting a picture of an all-powerful legislator who always got his way.

Lang is expected to testify Thursday.

Testimony also is still largely mirroring the first days of the ComEd Four trial last year, but the questioning is taking much longer.

Former state Rep. Scott Drury finished his testimony Wednesday morning.

Both he and former Rep. Carol Sente on Tuesday spoke to how their legislative careers were negatively impacted or cut short after falling afoul of the speaker for various reasons.

They also talked about how Madigan replaced committee members when he saw fit.

Drury's testimony became contentious, as Madigan's lawyers sought to discredit him.

Drury alleges he was iced out by the speaker early in his third term, after he chose not to vote for Madigan's reelection.

"Did you tell Mike Madigan that you were going to run against him for speaker?" Madigan's attorney Todd Pugh said.

"I said 'no.' I was not going to run against him for speaker," Drury said.

ComEd Vice President of Strategy and Energy Policy Scott Vogt testified Wednesday, as well.

Mike Madigan trial LIVE updates: Testimony continues for 2nd day in former IL speaker's trial

He spoke to ComEd's "dire" financial condition due to the rate freeze from 1998 to 2006.

He said ComEd paid attention to legislation in an effort to help the company.

Vogt also testified in the ComEd Four trial last year.

He spoke of the financial turnaround the then-troubled utility giant experienced thanks to the passage of two major pieces of legislation.

The government's indictment alleges Madigan, using his friend and ComEd lobbyist McLain as an intermediary, illegally solicited contracts and no-work jobs for his political allies in exchange for his support to get the bills passed.

One of the FBI agents, who for nine months wiretapped phone conversations between Madigan and McClain, is also expected to testify Thursday at the Dirksen Federal Building.

Madigan and Mike McClain face bribery and racketeering charges

The trial could last three months.

Capitol News Illinois contributed to this report.