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.
State Rep. Bob Rita began his testimony Thursday.
He testified for about 10 minutes before court was dismissed about 5 p.m.
Rita is a current state representative. He has been since 2003.
He represents the South Side of Chicago and some south suburbs.
He is chairman of the Executive Committee, and Madigan had appointed him as vice chair.
He's also chairperson for the Tollway Committee and Occupational Licensing Committee.
Rita's testimony will resume Monday.
Former House Speaker Mike Madigan's voice was heard for the first time in his trial during former Majority Leader Lou Lang's testimony Thursday, in an undercover phone call in which he is heard telling Mike McClain to ask Lang to resign, sooner rather than later.
It was the first of some 200 undercover recordings that were captured.
In court Thursday, jurors heard McClain say on tape, "So, when do you want me to call Lang and just lower the boom on him?"
Madigan is heard saying, "Soon. Soon."
Then, there was a recording of McClain talking to Lang, saying "This is not just me talking. This is someone who cares deeply for you, who wants you to move on."
Former Majority Leader Lou Lang has finished his testimony after several hours Thursday.
He spoke to bills moving out of the Rules Committee, and said he respected Madigan as a leader.
Lang said Madigan did not respect him all the time.
He also said Madigan never instructed him on how to vote on a bill, but added that the speaker had tremendous power.
Lang was involved in the ComEd bills.
He said former state Rep. Scott Drury, who previously testified was not well-liked, and being well-liked helped move a bill.
Lang said Madigan did request for him to resign.
He said he "left because it was in my best interest and nobody else."
The jury is taking a lunch break, before the next witness.
Testimony is also scheduled to continue Monday in former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan's trial.
The federal government is accusing Madigan of a sophisticated bribery and racketeering scheme.
His longtime confidant Michael McClain is also being tried.
Last week, the jury listened to the first of several undercover phone calls between the two defendants.
McClain's cell phone was tapped for nine months starting in late 2018.
The trial is expected to last several months.
State Rep. Bob Rita began his testimony Thursday.
He testified for about 10 minutes before court was dismissed about 5 p.m.
Rita is a current state representative. He has been since 2003.
He represents the South Side of Chicago and some south suburbs.
He is chairman of the Executive Committee, and Madigan had appointed him as vice chair.
He's also chairperson for the Tollway Committee and Occupational Licensing Committee.
Rita's testimony will resume Monday.
Ryan McDonald, one of the FBI agents, who for nine months wiretapped phone conversations between Mike Madigan and Mike McClain from 2018 to 2019, also testified Thursday at the Dirksen Federal Building.
With him on the stand, prosecutors played dozens of calls. Most were meant to establish McClain's close relationship with the speaker and the help he would provide on a multitude of issues.
During one such call, McClain told a Madigan staffer, "My client is the speaker. My client is not ComEd. My client is not Walgreens. My client is the speaker."
Because Madigan did not use a cell phone, the only times his voice will be heard during the trial will be in conversation with McClain.
McDonald said Madigan's investigation took place between 2014 and 2019; he's been with the FBI for over 20 years.
He said over 20,000 of McClain's calls were recorded.
Former House Speaker Mike Madigan's voice was heard for the first time in his trial during former Majority Leader Lou Lang's testimony Thursday, in an undercover phone call in which he is heard telling Mike McClain to ask Lang to resign, sooner rather than later.
It was the first of some 200 undercover recordings that were captured.
In court Thursday, jurors heard McClain say on tape, "So, when do you want me to call Lang and just lower the boom on him?"
Madigan is heard saying, "Soon. Soon."
Then, there was a recording of McClain talking to Lang, saying "This is not just me talking. This is someone who cares deeply for you, who wants you to move on."
