Feb 10, 2025, 4:31 PM GMT
Madigan wraps up testimony
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.
Mike Madigan trial updates: Ex-speaker finishes testimony after tough prosecutor questioning
Trial lasting months
Last updated: Wednesday, January 15, 2025 7:04PM GMT
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.
Key Headlines
- Feb 10, 2025, 4:31 PM GMT
- Feb 03, 2025, 10:26 PM GMT
Here's how the news is developing.
Feb 10, 2025, 4:31 PM
Madigan wraps up testimony
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.
Feb 03, 2025, 10:26 PM
Madigan defense attorneys building case
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.
Feb 10, 2025, 4:31 PM GMT
Madigan speaks on appointments
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.
Feb 10, 2025, 4:31 PM GMT
'So you elected to put a knife into his back?'
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.
Feb 10, 2025, 4:31 PM GMT
Prosecutor questions Madigan on understanding of law
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.
