Former IL House Speaker Michael Madigan takes stand in own defense in corruption trial

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan took the witness stand in his corruption trial Tuesday - an unexpected revelation that will likely stretch the already lengthy trial at the Dirksen Federal Building into late January.

The longtime House speaker's decision to testify is a risk, but it's also a surprise, given the quiet demeanor that was emblematic of his five decades in Springfield, including 36 years as the longest-serving legislative leader in the country.

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Madigan faces 23 counts in a case that frames his power in government, politics and as a partner in his law firm as a "criminal enterprise" meant to maintain and increase his power and enrich his allies. His co-defendant, longtime Springfield lobbyist Mike McClain, is accused on six related counts. Before the holiday break, McClain waived his own right to testify.

Prosecutors rested their case the week before Christmas after calling 50 witnesses and playing for the jury more than 150 wiretapped phone calls and videos secretly recorded by FBI cooperators.

Attorneys had just finished questioning the eighth defense witness on Tuesday morning before the parties discussed a matter during a sidebar.

When U.S. District Judge John Blakey returned to the courtroom after a post-sidebar recess to his chambers, he asked Madigan if he could approach the bench. But he then changed his mind after attorneys said they needed to further research case law regarding whether the former speaker could testify in his own jury trial but not testify in a possible forfeiture bench trial if he is found guilty.

"So he'll testify now?" Blakey asked Madigan attorney Dan Collins, who indicated that the former speaker would be the next witness.

Prior to the revelation, Madigan's former law partner, Vincent "Bud" Getzendanner, was expected to testify on Tuesday. But Madigan's time on the witness stand could take days or even weeks.

He'll also open himself up to what will surely be, when the time comes, a vicious cross-examination.

"You have the right to give truthful testimony," said Judge John Blakey, as Madigan waived his right to not testify.

Defense attorney Dan Collins got right to the point, asking, "Did you ever trade your public office for private gain?"

Madigan said, "no."

"Did you ever offer a thing of value in exchange for a promise to take official action?" Collins asked.

Madigan said, "no," again.

The former speaker turned to look at the jury every time he answered a question posed.

Following that initial round of questioning, however, defense attorneys sought to humanize Madigan to the jury, allowing him to tell long-winded stories ranging from how he ended up at St. Ignatius, his first summer job working the dirt trucks at Streets and Sanitation and most poignantly about his father, who Madigan described as an alcoholic with an anger problem.

"My parents never told me they loved me. They never embraced. They never hugged," he said.

The former speaker has had at least one family member present each day of the trial.

He left the courthouse Tuesday surrounded by family.

Madigan was indicted in March 2022 on nearly two dozen counts of racketeering, bribery, wire fraud and extortion. The feds allege Madigan helped electric utility Commonwealth Edison and telecom giant AT&T Illinois pass key pieces of legislation through Springfield in exchange for jobs and contracts for Madigan allies. Additionally, prosecutors say Madigan used his positions to recruit work for his property tax law firm.

McClain was charged alongside him, alleged to have acted as the conduit - and sometimes muscle - for multiple bribery schemes even beyond those pertaining to ComEd, which was his largest client as a contract lobbyist.

Madigan on Tuesday acknowledged asking McClain to help with the job requests; he denied those jobs were provided in exchange for any legislative favors.

The former speaker walked the jury through the lengthy negotiations involved in getting both the ComEd and AT&T bills passed, claiming there was no love lost between himself and ComEd specifically, the former speaker said.

"I told my chief counsel to not trust ComEd, to be suspicious and to work to draft legislation that would guarantee they would do what they said they would do," Madigan said.

Madigan also denied knowing that the men he had recommended for jobs with ComEd performed no work in exchange for their contracts, saying he was "angry" when he found that out.

"My general approach was, if I could be helpful, I wanted to be helpful," said Madigan of his frequent efforts to help those who supported him politically.

Madigan will return to the stand Wednesday for what will be a short day of testimony.

Because Thursday has been declared a national day of mourning in honor of the late Jimmy Carter, his testimony will almost surely continue into next week.

The former speaker's trial began in October after two weeks of jury selection. Despite the high-profile nature of the case, most of the 12 jurors and six alternates ultimately chosen had never heard of Madigan.

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ABC7 Chicago's Michelle Gallardo contributed to this report.

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