During his testimony, Madigan threw his former best friend under the proverbial bus. It was a move that was expected to happen sooner or later as the former Speaker tried to distance himself from some of his co-defendant's actions allegedly taken on his behalf.
Madigan left the Federal Courthouse Wednesday following a second day on the stand. It was a short day, but one marked by a clear effort to create a separation between himself and his co-defendant Mike McClain, a man he's known since the 1970s.
"Did the friendship survive sir?," McClain's attorney Patrick Cotter asked during his cross-examination Wednesday.
"It did until recently," Madigan responded.
Over the course of the trial, the government has played dozens of phone calls between Madigan and McClain. Calls, that not only established the very close relationship that existed between both men, but McClain's role as a fixer of sorts, acting on the Speaker's behalf on a variety of issues, including helping the then Speaker's political allies to get jobs.
On Wednesday, with Madigan still on direct, his attorney brought up specific instances where McClain was documented to be aggressively pushing for ComEd to confirm certain hires or contract renewals.
"Did McClain accurately express your mindset?" Madigan's defense attorney Dan Collins asked.
"No," said Madigan.
"Did you authorize McClain to express this sentiment?" asked Collins.
"No," replied Madigan.
The 23 count indictment accuses Madigan of running a decade-long "criminal enterprise" with the help of Mike McClain. An enterprise meant to illegally use his position in Springfield for personal gain.
Madigan on Wednesday eloquently making the case that his actions, including requesting public officials like government mole Danny Solis for introductions to developers who might hire his private law firm, were entirely appropriate.
"There was not going to be any quid pro quo with me," Madigan said. "I just wanted an introduction... I was not going to connect an introduction with anything else."
The government's cross examination of Madigan will begin on Monday.
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