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.
Former Ald. Daniel Solis took the stand Thursday.
Solis has played a role in multiple federal prosecutions.
Solis' testimony is one of the most anticipated in the corruption case against Madigan.
The former alderman turned government mole eight years ago while still in City Council, recording many of his conversations with the then-speaker. In exchange for his help, Solis cut a deferred prosecution deal to avoid prison time for his own political misdeeds.
Solis took the stand Thursday for the first time as a government witness.
Evidence he collected led to Alderman Ed Burke's own corruption trial and conviction last year, but prosecutors at the time never called him to testify. Though, the defense did.
Solis' cooperation with the government began in mid-2016, when he was the chair of the powerful Zoning Committee in City Council. During his time as a government mole, Solis recorded his conversations with a variety of public officials, including Madigan.
FBI Special Agent Ryan McDonald said on the stand Thursday afternoon investigators focused in on the speaker in 2017, after Solis recorded a meeting during which Madigan was heard asking Solis to introduce him to the developers of a high-rise apartment building in the West Loop called Union West.
Madigan said he would like to get their property tax business directed to his law firm, Madigan and Getzendanner.
Over the time of his cooperation, the FBI directed Solis to engage Madigan on various topics, including the possible re-development of a Chinatown parking lot and the redevelopment of the Old Post Office Building.
In each one, Solis was meant to lure Madigan in with the promise of getting business steered toward his law firm.
The indictment accuses Madigan of using his position as speaker to unlawfully steer business to his law firm, with his co-defendant, Mike McClain, carrying out illegal activity at Madigan's direction.
In turning government mole, Solis became only the second-ever sitting alderman to do so.
His testimony is expected to go well into next week, and could extend even further because of the upcoming holiday.
Court resumes Monday.
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 learned about a "magic list" of Madigan supporters.
Mike McClain drafted a "magic list" of people who had helped Madigan.
Will Cousineau admitted he saw it with a letterhead of the Talbot Hotel in Chicago. It was handwritten.
The jury heard a number of calls between Mike McClain and Will Cousineau Thursday.
Many of the calls between McClain and Cousineau were regarding finding a job for Kevin Quinn at Cornerstone (Cousineau's company), after his termination over sexual harassment allegations.
Cousineau was hesitant.
They discussed a plan to create a contract for Quinn, and not just a piece of paper to protect them from the IRS.
There was also a conversation about finding Eddie Acevedo work.
They also spoke about protecting Madigan, and ensuring he keep his speakership role.
McClain was heard in one call saying, "We cannot lose our friend (Madigan) and give Illinois to these guys (former Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner)."
Cousineau left the speaker's office in 2018, and said there were various sexual harassment allegations by Democrat officials and employees at that time, which was a concern for Madigan.
Cousineau said meetings were held on how to handle the allegations.
In one call, Cousineau was heard telling McClain they needed to get a public relations firm to handle the allegations.
There was also a call about AT&T.
Cousineau lobbied for CenturyLink, a telecommunications company. At the time, they wanted to get a change in law. So, he met with McClain.
He asked if AT&T had an issue with the legislation.
In 2017, the legislation was advanced by AT&T. It became law later in 2017.
McClain and Cousineau were also heard on a call speaking on how Rep. Kelly Cassidy needed to be careful.
McClain tells Cousineau,"Madigan is doing a slow burn on her. She ought to be very careful. She may find herself way over in outer hemisphere if she doesn't watch it."
Just after 9:30 a.m., longtime Madigan aide Will Cousineau returned to the stand for a third day.
Cousineau served a dual role as both Madigan's issues director and political director of the Democratic Party of Illinois.
In exchange for his testimony, the government served Cousineau with a letter of immunity, which essentially says he cannot be charged if he testifies truthfully.
During his testimony, Cousineau has given an inside look into how the speaker's office operated under Madigan, and the people who were part of his inner circle.
Thursday began in former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan's federal corruption trial with a motion to exclude some evidence.
Defense attorneys filed a motion to exclude any references to the creation of documents and phone calls about tax issues with Kevin Quinn.
There are about seven tax issue calls between Mike McClain and Will Cousineau. In one of those phone calls, McClain asks the speaker if he should let Quinn's brother know about the financial arrangements. Kevin is Ald. Marty Quinn's brother.
But, the government maintains this is critical to establish the arrangements of payments to Quinn.
They argue that it points to the concealment of documents in the case.
The government argues that this is about compensating a political ally, and trying to conceal the payments that are not for legitimate work.
The judge denied the motion, and also noted that the motion was not timely.
