Mike Madigan trial live updates: Former chief of staff testifies in ex-Illinois speaker trial

Jennifer Gavelek, senior vice president for Alliant Insurance Services, began her testimony Wednesday.

Alliant Insurance Services is a broker and consulting firm.

While at the insurance agency, Gavelek got involved with the Resurrection Project.

Andrew Madigan was one of her clients, but also employed by Alliant as a senior vice president.

He introduced her to the project.

He had a sales type of role to find potential customers for their firm.

In October 2019, Gavelek met with the CFO of Resurrection Project, Anjanette Brown, and signed them as a client in May of 2020.

Andrew Madigan received 20% of the commission of the total amount that Alliant received for their services.

During 2019-2021, a total of $216,625 was paid in commissions to Alliant.

Andrew Madigan received about $43,000.

Jessica Basham wrapped up her testimony Wednesday, discussing Madigan's recommendation list.

She said she prepared it on her own, and that she didn't notice that Madigan took any action against Gov. JB Pritzker, if he didn't act on the recommendations.

Basham said Madigan didn't make all decisions himself, but consulted his staff and heard from members of his caucus.

Madigan's defense attorney Daniel Collins asked Jessica Basham if the former speaker worked long hours.

"I don't think anyone works harder than Mike Madigan," she said.

Basham said she wasn't always familiar with all those who were recommended for positions, and they didn't all come from the speaker.

She said they weren't all acted upon. About half were approved, she said.

She also said labor was important to Madigan.

Basham told Collins current House Speaker Chris Welch also makes recommendations.

Collins showed a document that stated a few of the new speaker's recommendations, including Willie Mae Welch for Illinois Prisoner Review Board.

Mike Madigan's former chief of staff Jessica Basham took the stand Wednesday.

Before her testimony, attorneys discussed whether to allow some research she performed in 2020.

The government opposed presenting the document.

Basham worked for the speaker from January 2003 - August 2021.

She is currently self-employed, and owns her own firm as a governmental consultant and lobbyist.

As an analyst for the research and appropriations unit, Basham prepared memos and other documents detailing personnel recommendations, appointments to boards and commissions to Gov. Pritzker's administrations and others.

In early 2019, she prepared these memos of personnel recommendations at the direction of the speaker. It was like a tracking list of individuals who had been recommended for Pritzker.

It also included a list of names "for permanent placement," given to her by the speaker.

The speaker's staff would email the governor's office to get status updates regarding the personnel recommendations.

On Feb. 4, 2019, Basham sent an email to Pritzker's office, requesting to meet weekly to discuss personnel and other recommendations, saying, "The speaker would like to get in the habit of meeting weekly with the governor."

By July 2019, the list of recommendations had 85 people on it, prosecutors said.