Mike Madigan trial updates: Defense rests case in federal corruption trial

Madigan finished his testimony Tuesday afternoon, after making the surprising decision to take the stand in his own defense.

It's still not clear if his gamble will pay off.

Madigan was also questioned about some of his recommendations and appointments.

At one point, Madigan bragged to Solis that he got an 11th Precinct captain appointment to Labor Relations after he recommended him to the Quinn administration, saying, "See, I got him appointed."

A prosecutor asked Madigan what he meant by that.

"I recommended him to the Quinn administration, and he got appointed," Madigan said Tuesday.

Madigan also helped Ray Nice get an appointment. In March 2015, Jesse White appointed Nice for an employment security position, which paid $15,000 a year.

Madigan also talked about the request he received to give Jeffrey Rush a "second chance" by helping him find a job.

Rush was fired by the Department of Corrections for having a relationship with an inmate.

Madigan attorney Dan Collins noted that that the hiring of Rush by Friends of Michael J. Madigan Hiring was in publicly filed documents.

Bhachu also asked about the effort to get a job for Jaime Andrade's wife.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Bhachu grilled Madigan regarding his comments to McClain about putting a knife into then Senate President John Cullerton, who was also their son's godparent.

Bhachu asked Madigan, "So, you elected to put a knife into his back?"

McClain had asked Madigan how his meeting had gone with Gov.-elect JB Pritzker.

"I think it went pretty well. It got, you know, I put the knife into Cullerton three or four times," Madigan said.

Madigan testified he said that figuratively because of Cullerton's negative advertisement against him.

In a separate conversation, Madigan told McClain, "We can run a bill to wipe out the toll road."

Cullerton wanted to keep Illinois State Toll Highway Authority Chairman Schillerstrom at the toll road, but Pritzker allegedly did not like Schillerstrom.

Madigan said the reason he wanted the changes was due to their mismanagement.

A prosecutor Tuesday morning questioned Madigan on his understanding of the law.

"You know that it is unlawful for a public official to accept a personal benefit when you know that person is trying to influence official action?" Assistant U.S. Attorney Amar Bhachu said.

Madigan responded, "yes."

Madigan was questioned not only about the FEJA and COLR legislation, but also about his conversations with Solis about his request for a state board appointment and his requests to Solis regarding meetings with developers, including one with Harry Skydell, the Post Office developer, and another one with developers Alex Lin and Jason Lin, with the Jaslin Hotel LLC agreement in July 2018. They also owned a building at Cermak Road and Wentworth Avenue.

Bhachu argued that Solis' intention was to bring him legal business in exchange for a state board position.

Madigan said these were requests for an introduction meeting.

On Aug. 2, 2018, there was an in-person meeting between Solis and Madigan.

Solis asked Madigan if there was something else he could do for him.

Madigan said, "Just ask him, 'give Andrew something.'"

Madigan said that his request was for the Resurrection Project to return Andrew's calls.