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Jury hears 1st of many undercover recordings in former IL Speaker Mike Madigan corruption trial

Thursday, October 24, 2024

Jury hears 1st of many undercover recordings in Madigan trial

Former Majority Leader Lou Lang took the stand Thursday in former Illinois Speaker Mike Madigan's corruption trial.

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Former Majority Leader Lou Lang took the stand first Thursday, in the federal corruption trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan.

Lang has testified in both the ComEd case and the trial of Madigan's former chief of staff last summer. Both testimonies delved into how Madigan sent Mike McClain to urge Lang to retire from the General Assembly after the speaker's office was warned of a woman who had threatened to go public with sexual harassment allegations if Lang did not step down.

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Madigan's voice was heard for the first time in his trial during Lang's testimony Thursday, in an undercover phone call in which he is heard telling McClain to ask Lang to resign, sooner rather than later.

It was the first of some 200 undercover recordings that were captured.

Lang resigned two months after those phone calls were made, and while this incident has nothing to do with the bribery and racketeering case against the former speaker, his testimony, along with others before is meant to lay a foundation for the jury.: painting a picture of an all-powerful legislator who always got his way.

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By late 2018, Lang was embroiled in scandal, leading Madigan to determine it was time for him to go.

The FBI was also already listening to co-defendant McClain's cell phone conversations, as a way to get to Madigan.

In court Thursday, jurors heard McClain say on tape, "So, when do you want me to call Lang and just lower the boom on him?"

Madigan is heard saying, "Soon. Soon."

Then, there was a recording of McClain talking to Lang, saying "This is not just me talking. This is someone who cares deeply for you, who wants you to move on."

Ryan McDonald, one of the FBI agents, who for nine months wiretapped phone conversations between Madigan and McClain from 2018 to 2019, also testified Thursday at the Dirksen Federal Building.

With him on the stand, prosecutors played dozens of calls. Most were meant to establish McClain's close relationship with the speaker and the help he would provide on a multitude of issues.

During one such call, McClain told a Madigan staffer, "My client is the speaker. My client is not ComEd. My client is not Walgreens. My client is the speaker."

Because Madigan did not use a cell phone, the only times his voice will be heard during the trial will be in conversation with McClain.

Testimony continues Monday with state Rep. Bob Rita.

On Wednesday, jurors heard from a ComEd executive and former state lawmaker Scott Drury.

Madigan and Mike McClain face bribery and racketeering charges

The trial could last three months.

Capitol News Illinois contributed to this report.