Mike Madigan trial updates: Madigan's fate now in hands of the jury in corruption trial

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Last updated: Monday, February 3, 2025 10:25PM GMT
Madigan's fate now in hands of the jury in corruption trial
Madigan had been indicted on federal racketeering and bribery charges as a part of what federal prosecutors call 'the Madigan enterprise.'

CHICAGO (WLS) -- 14-and-a-half weeks after the jury was first seated in former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan's federal bribery and racketeering trial, his fate, and that of his co-defendant Mike McClain is now in their hands.

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 has taken several months.

Check back with ABC7 Chicago for live updates.

Feb 10, 2025, 4:30 PM GMT

Jury picks foreman; Judge Blakey says 'best jury ever'

After requesting more pens and highlights jurors said they chose juror #16 to be the foreman.

Jurors adjourned at 4:30 p.m. and discussed deliberation times with the judge.

Judge Blakey said they were the "best jury ever."

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Feb 10, 2025, 4:30 PM GMT

Madigan's fate now in hands of the jury

14-and-a-half weeks after the jury was first seated in former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan's federal bribery and racketeering trial, his fate, and that of his co-defendant Mike McClain is now in their hands.

While the case is now in the hands of the jury, any actual deliberations are unlikely to take place before Thursday. The delay is due to the countless recordings and documents that must be set up in the jury room for them and a foreman must be selected.

Including the more than 100 pages of instructions they have to go through.

The jury is made up by eight women and four men, including a nurse, a woman who works at a Goodwill donation center and a manager for Aramark food company.

Former Federal Prosecutor Chris Hotaling said they may start by taking an initial poll.

"They're not allowed to talk about the case until they begin the deliberations," Hotaling said. "So even though they've been together for more than four months. They really haven't had an opportunity to talk amongst themselves where each person feels."

The road to this day has been anything but straightforward. Court proceedings have gone weeks longer than expected and included, to everyone's surprise, the testimony of the former Illinois House Speaker himself. A highly risky move.

"It does come down to whether or not they believe him," Hotaling said. "Because they heard three months of all these recordings and the government's version of what those meant. And then they, on the other hand, have three or four days of testimony where he's saying it's 100% the opposite. How do you resolve it?"

Assistant US Attorney Amarjeet Bhachu got one last dig in during rebuttalon Wednesday. He called a liar, mocking his attempt to distance himself from his co-defendant, Mike McClain.

McClain is a former lobbyist, close friend and confidant of the then speaker who was widely known to frequently work out of the speaker's offices while in Springfield.

"You really think Michael Madigan's office was a public toilet where people could just come and park themselves?" Bhachu asked the jury.

"Now you just kind of hand over your baby to 12 people and let them decide it," Hotaling said.

Feb 10, 2025, 4:30 PM GMT

Bhachu wraps rebuttal; jury gets final instructions

Attorney Bhachu wrapped up his rebuttal on Wednesday around 3 p.m.

Judge Blakey was giving jury his final instructions regarding deliberations.

Feb 10, 2025, 4:30 PM GMT

Prosecutors waste no time in response to closing arguments

Assistant U.S. Attorney Amar Bhachu waisted no time on responding to defense attorney's closing arguments.

In response to Madigan's attorney using the word "myth" in their closing arguments last week, Bhachu said "the charges in the indictment before you are not the product of myth. They're not the product of the imagination. Those charges are based upon matters of undeniable fact."

He then encouraged the jury to apply their common sense to the evidence.

Bhachu argued that Madigan's testimony is not consistent with what everyone else said on the stand and it is also not reliable.

When discussing summer internships, Bhachu said these were not mere job recommendations because they were not based on integrity, merit or work ethic.

Bhachu says Madigan's testimony was about lies and deception. Saying that the former Illinois speaker testified that he was angry when he heard work was not being done. Yet, he is heard in a recording telling McClain: "These guys made out like bandits."

Judge called for a lunch break until 1 p.m.