Trial lasting months
CHICAGO (WLS) -- The corruption trial for former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan continues.
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.
Former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan has taken the stand in his federal corruption trial.
His testimony is likely the most significant of its kind in Chicago's federal court since former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich unsuccessfully tried to convince a jury of his innocence more than a decade ago.
Madigan's defense is expected to consist of three witnesses, including his longtime 13th Ward assistant and a successful novelist, who at one time was the former speaker's top counsel. But, it was the real estate developer, who, in some ways, kicked off this whole investigation, who took the stand first.
It was July 18, 2017, when Madigan first met real estate developer Andy Cretal at his tax law firm office in the Loop. That meeting was, without either man's knowledge, being recorded by 22nd Ward Alderman-turned-government-mole Danny Solis.
At the time, Cretal was looking to build what are now the Union West apartments in the West Loop, Solis' ward. But, it wasn't until weeks earlier, when Madigan called Solis out of the blue asking for an introduction, that the FBI's ears perked up.
The phone call went as follows:
Solis: "Do you know the developer?"
Madigan: "Those people?"
Solis: "Do you know the, uh, people there?"
Madigan: "No, but I'd like to."
Madigan, along with his co-defendant, Mike McClain, are accused of running a criminal enterprise that sought to use his position in Springfield to enrich the speaker and his cronies, partly through illegally steering business to his law firm.
Another video played in court showed an exchange between Solis and Madigan.
Solis: "Did you want to meet?"
Madigan: "Over the phone, you made a comment that there, that there was a quid pro quo."
Solis: "Oh, I'm sorry, yeah."
Madigan: "Yeah."
Solis: "OK."
Madigan: "You shouldn't be talking like that. You're just recommending our law firm."
And yet, as McClain's defense rested Thursday morning, Madigan's attorneys called Andy Cretal to the stand, in the hopes his testimony will help them combat those allegations.
"Did you ever feel threatened, fearful or intimidated into hiring that law firm?" attorney Dan Collins asked.
"I did not," Cretal said.
And yet, during cross-examination, prosecutors asked Cretal if he was concerned that the development would not be authorized if they didn't hire Madigan's law firm.
"That was a concern of mine, yes," he said.
Co-defendant Mike McClain's attorneys rested their case Thursday.
Madigan's attorney called Andrew Cretal to the witness stand next.
He said he is currently doing real estate development.
Cretal was the Union West developer recorded by former Ald. Danny Solis.
Madigan left the courthouse with family after his first day testifying.
He'll return to the stand Wednesday for what will be a short day of testimony.
Because Thursday has been declared a national day of mourning in honor of the late Jimmy Carter, his testimony will almost surely continue into next week.
The feds allege Madigan helped electric utility Commonwealth Edison and telecom giant AT&T Illinois pass key pieces of legislation through Springfield in exchange for jobs and contracts for Madigan allies. Additionally, prosecutors say Madigan used his positions to recruit work for his property tax law firm.
McClain was charged alongside him, alleged to have acted as the conduit - and sometimes muscle - for multiple bribery schemes even beyond those pertaining to ComEd, which was his largest client as a contract lobbyist.
Madigan on Tuesday acknowledged asking McClain to help with the job requests; he denied those jobs were provided in exchange for any legislative favors.
The former speaker walked the jury through the lengthy negotiations involved in getting both the ComEd and AT&T bills passed, claiming there was no love lost between himself and ComEd specifically, the former speaker said.
"I told my chief counsel to not trust ComEd, to be suspicious and to work to draft legislation that would guarantee they would do what they said they would do," Madigan said.
Madigan also denied knowing that the men he had recommended for jobs with ComEd performed no work in exchange for their contracts, saying he was "angry" when he found that out.
"My general approach was, if I could be helpful, I wanted to be helpful," said Madigan of his frequent efforts to help those who supported him politically.
Defense attorneys sought to humanize the former speaker Tuesday.
They allowed him to tell long-winded stories ranging from how he ended up at St. Ignatius, his first summer job working the dirt trucks at Streets and Sanitation and most poignantly about his father, who Madigan described as an alcoholic with an anger problem.
"My parents never told me they loved me. They never embraced. They never hugged," he said.
But, defense attorney Dan Collins also asked, "Did you ever trade your public office for private gain?"
Madigan said, "no."
"Did you ever offer a thing of value in exchange for a promise to take official action?" Collins asked.
Madigan said, "no," again.
Former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan has taken the stand in his federal corruption trial.
His testimony is likely the most significant of its kind in Chicago's federal court since former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich unsuccessfully tried to convince a jury of his innocence more than a decade ago.
