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.
The Madigan trial will extend into January, the judge said Monday.
The trial is running at least two weeks longer than expected, with an end date likely not coming before the middle of January.
The jury was shown emails between former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore and co-defendant McClain Thursday.
The emails were from 2017.
On one, McClain sent Pramaggiore the names of a couple people for whom he requested appointments.
Ed Moody wrapped up his testimony Thursday.
Jurors on Wednesday heard what could be crucial new testimony from him.
Moody testified, under oath, to receiving a consulting contract from ComEd, worth over $354,000. Except, he never did any work for ComEd.
One of Mike Madigan's attorneys highlighted Ed Moody's value Wednesday.
Attorney Tom Breen will resume his cross-examination Thursday, after court adjourned early.
But Breen highlighted the work Moody did for McClain and as a precinct captain, a consultant, a Worth Township highway commissioner and then as a Cook County recorder of deeds.
Breen also talked about his ability to flip three precincts in an Orland Park election from Republican to Democratic.
Former Cook County Commissioner Ed Moody is on the stand Wednesday in former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan's federal corruption trial.
He said he received an immunity letter from the government to tell truthful testimony.
Moody was a former 13th Ward precinct captain committeeman and an ex-recorder of deeds who allegedly was paid $355,000 by ComEd on a do-nothing consulting contract.
Prosecutors claim the utility company gave him that contract as a way to bribe the former House speaker.
Moody admitted that between 2012-2019, he received checks by Doherty, McClain, Shaw-Decremer and from the Bradley law firm.
He delved into the political campaign work that he and his twin brother, Fred Moody, did for Speaker Madigan and how much he enjoyed doing it.
They were considered the best so they began to train other precinct captains and volunteers during seminars.
Moody said Madigan would attend these.
Moody explained how Speaker Madigan got him a jury supervisor job at the Bridgeview Courthouse and later a job with Mike McClain.
