Mike Madigan trial updates: Government rests, defense builds case in ex-speaker trial

Former Illinois state Rep. Avery Bourne took the stand Tuesday.

She lives in Morrisonville, Illinois, and has for the past five years.

She is an independent contractor focusing on communications work.

Bourne served in the state legislature for almost eight years, since 2015.

Bourne explained the requests made to her to add the Chinatown parking lot parcel to the land transfer bill at the end of the spring session.

On May 31, 2018, McCreery texted her, "Is there any chance you would run that bill with our Chinatown language as a floor amendment? The speaker would call and support it."

Bourne responded, "I won't if IDOT has concerns. They're the experts on this, and I'm not comfortable with a different process with this piece."

Bourne was also concerned about the timing, saying, "the process and the timing of this and having it rushed at the end of session."

Bourne had a conversation with Jim Durkin about this, as well, in which she told him she was not in support of the added Chinatown amendment.

There were attempts to find another sponsor, Dan Burke.

However, Bourne remained the sponsor of the land use bill. It ended up passing in the fall of 2018 (without the Chinatown amendment).

Lobbyist Ryan McCreery took the stand first Tuesday.

He was the former deputy director for the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.

He was also a former aide to lobbyist Nancy Kimme.

He now owns his own firm.

He helped draft legislation and the amendment language for a Chinatown land transfer bill.

The defense team for former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan wants the judge to dismiss one of the criminal counts against him.

That count claims Madigan used his influence to get AT&T to pay former state Rep. Eddie Acevedo more than $20,000 for a no-work consulting contract.

The defense wants a count dismissed against ex-Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan in his federal corruption trial.

Prosecutors want to call Acevedo to the stand Wednesday.

His attorney said Acevedo has been diagnosed with dementia, and is not competent to testify.

The judge said he'll decide on that and the AT&T count later Tuesday.

Former state Rep. Eddie Acevedo has dementia and may not testify.

Sentenced to six months in prison for tax evasion, Acevedo is a one-time member of Madigan's leadership team, who went on to collect $120,000 from ComEd, and another $22,500 from AT&T for what were essentially no-work consulting jobs prosecutors say he obtained thanks to Madigan's influence.

Jurors heard a phone call from Nov. 20, 2018, between John Bradley and Mike McClain.

"The other two, I don't hear much out of 'em unless Eddie Acevedo doesn't get his check within 12 hours of when he thinks he's supposed to get it," Bradley said.

"Yeah, he's something. Isn't he?" McClain said.

But, while Acevedo is being compelled to testify, in court Monday, his attorney said the former state representative has been diagnosed with dementia. Judge John Blakey said he will interview him personally before making a determination.

The judge's decision regarding Acevedo's testimony could determine whether the government is able to wrap up its case against Madigan this week or next at the Dirksen Federal Building.