Mike Madigan trial updates: Testimony continues in former Illinois speaker's trial

Co-defendant Michael McClain's defense has wrapped up their opening statements as the Michael Madigan federal corruption trial moves forward.

McLain's defense attorney John Mitchell told the jury, "The evidence will show mike McClain was a lobbyist and like all lobbyist he understood if you want to get access to a politician you need to develop a relationship of trust...a favor by itself is not a bribe, a favor is a favor."

Prosecutors told the jury, a now 82-year old Madigan traded favorable legislation for no work jobs and contracts for his allies and steered business to his private law firm - often using his confidant and co-defendant Michael McClain as a middle man.

McClain has already been convicted separately in a bribery scheme involving com-ed. His sentencing is pending.

Former Democratic Illinois House representatives Carol Sente, Scott Drury and Lou Lang are expected to testify Tuesday. All three testified at the ComEd trial.

Opening statements continue Tuesday in the corruption trial of former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan.

Tuesday morning, his co-defendant Michael McClain's defense will present its opening statements.

Mike Madigan left court with his attorneys after an afternoon of legal arguments.

The former house speaker, supported by his wife Shirley and daughter Lisa Madigan, who is the former Illinois attorney general, sat in the front row in the courtroom.

The government is accusing Mike Madigan of participating in a bribery and racketeering scheme.

Prosecutors told the jury the now 82-year old Madigan traded favorable legislation for no work jobs and contracts for his allies and steered business to his private law firm, often using his confidant and co-defendant Michael McClain as a middle man.

McClain has already been convicted separately in a bribery scheme involving ComEd.

The jury heard the first of years of conversation former Alderman Danny Solis recorded with Madigan. The defense said Solis cannot be trusted.

The defense ended its opening statements by saying to the jury, "you are going to hear some out and out lies...Madigan was in fact...incorruptible."

The jury could begin hearing testimony Tuesday.

Opening Statements began Monday, in the corruption trial of former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan.

Opening statements began Monday in former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan's corruption trial. Jury selection was slow-going.

The government established its case against Madigan, while his attorneys got their first say, as they try to prove that their client is not guilty of racketeering and bribery conspiracy.

U.S. District Judge John Blakey Monday afternoon read 30 minutes of instructions to the jury selected to decide Madigan's fate.

With that, the government carefully and methodically laid out its corruption case against the 82-year-old Madigan, along with that of his co-defendant, close friend and former lobbyist Mike McClain. It is a case that took years to build, and covers only a small period of the nearly four decades Madigan spent at the helm of the General Assembly.

"This is a case of corruption at the highest level," Assistant U.S. State's Attorney Sarah Streicker said. "(Madigan did this) to enrich himself and his associates through bribery. These were not the kind of bribes that were carried out by handing over envelopes with cash. The bribes were more sophisticated."

From 2011 to 2019, the bribes were, according to the 23-count indictment, given by both ComEd and AT&T in the form of no-work jobs and contracts for Madigan's political associates.

In exchange, the government said, Madigan helped the utility giants get critical legislation approved. But the speaker, widely known to not use either email or a cell phone, did not, according to Streicker, make these requests directly.

"When Madigan did not want his fingerprints on something, he assigned McClain to handle it. When McClain told you something, you knew it was coming from Madigan," Streicker said.

The bribes were also, according to the government, allegedly given in the form of legal work funneled to the then-speaker's law firm, Madigan & Getzendanner. In exchange, Madigan, along with then-25th Ward Alderman Daniel Solis, would help developers to get their zoning permits approved. The construction projects included ones in Chinatown, the West Loop and at the Old Post Office building.

Solis, who has legal troubles of his own, turned government mole, and recorded many of his conversations with Madigan. He's expected to testify during the trial, the government said Monday.

"It's all on tape," Streicker said.

It was then over to Madigan's attorney, Tom Breen, who immediately set out to discredit the government's case.

"You are going to hear some out-and-out lies. The evidence in this case is going to show that at no time did he, Michael Madigan, participate in his own bribery scheme. It did not happen. That is not who he is," Breen said.

Prosecutors said they will play around 250 undercover recordings during the trial, many of which have already been aired at lead-up trials involving ComEd and AT&T.

Opening statements will continue Tuesday, with the jury yet to hear from McClain's attorneys.