Trial expected to last months
CHICAGO (WLS) -- The corruption trial for former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan has begun.
Madigan had been indicted on federal racketeering and bribery charges as a part of what federal prosecutors call "the Madigan enterprise," where they say he allegedly committed crimes for his personal gain and that of his political allies.
The blockbuster trial is expected to take several months.
Check back with ABC7 Chicago for live updates.
Another FBI agent took the stand Thursday before the week wrapped up for the Madigan trial.
FBI special agent Jody Blau, who executed a search of Ray Nice's home near Midway, took the stand before court wrapped up for the day.
Court will resume Monday.
Several witnesses have been heard Thursday after Fidel Marquez wrapped up his testimony.
Patrick Comiskey, a public accountant and former Alderman Frank Olivo's son-in-law, testified before FBI Special Agent Brent Potter took the stand.
Potter was the third FBI agent to testify Thursday.
Current and former ComEd and Exelon employees testified Thursday.
John Gallaher, Tracy Favre and Elizabeth Lynch testified to the complete absence of records of the Madigan-recommended "subcontractors."
They also discussed the contracts they had with Doherty, Shaw-Decremer and the Roosevelt Group.
Gallaher is now retired, but worked at Exelon for 41 years in Pennsylvania.
He said, when asked to search the records for Ray Nice, Frank Olivo, Ed Moody and Mike Zalewski, he found none.
Favre works in ComEd's governmental affairs in Springfield.
She managed IT work, lobbyist filings and registrations, and worked on legislative agenda for ComEd.
She reported to Hooker and later to Marquez.
She spoke about some of the Springfield lobbying and pieces of legislation.
Lynch explained Exelon's financial record keeping, payment of records to lobbyists and approval of invoices and contracts.
FBI Special Agent Michael Borkan was up on the stand after Lynch, followed by FBI Supervisor Special Agent Michael Fee.
After the prosecution's star witness wrapped up Thursday, the jury is hearing more secret recordings.
They heard phone calls involving efforts to find a job for the wife of state representative Jaime Andrade.
He and his wife apparently wanted the added income to help pay for private school tuition and childcare for their children.
Before the lunch break, no other witness was called to the stand.
