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.
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The Madigan trial will extend into January, the judge said Monday.
The trial is running at least two weeks longer than expected, with an end date likely not coming before the middle of January.
The jury entered the courtroom on Thursday at about 9 a.m.
Cross-examination of star witness Fidel Marquez is expected to continue.
Thursday marks the sixth day Marquez takes the stand.
Before the jury entered the courtroom, attorneys discussed whether or not to introduce "certain evidence."
Madigan's attorneys are cross-examining Fidel Marquez Wednesday.
"You agreed to wear wires on your ComEd family?" one attorney asked.
Marquez said, "yes."
"So you agreed to wear a wire, against your four friends, and you're telling us the FBI didn't give you any inducement to set them up?" the attorney asked.
"I got a sense that this was not good," Marquez said.
Mike McClain's team wrapped up their cross-examination of Fidel Marquez Wednesday.
It's Marquez's fifth day on the stand.
Mike Madigan's team will start their cross-examination next.
The defense has been trying to challenge Marquez's credibility as a witness.
They said he wore a wire to get himself out of trouble, hid money from his wife during divorce proceedings and lied on a gun purchase form in Arizona this past month, saying he hadn't been convicted of a felony.
Former Alderman Daniel Solis is expected to testify soon, a prosecutor said Wednesday.
The assistant U.S. attorney said Solis is expected next week.
