Closing arguments begin in corruption trial of former IL House Speaker Michael Madigan

ByMichelle Gallardo

Wednesday, January 22, 2025

Closing arguments begin in Madigan corruption trial

Closing arguments began Wednesday in the federal corruption trial of longtime Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Closing arguments began Wednesday in the federal corruption trial of longtime Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan

Last week, the defense rested its case in the bribery and corruption trial at the Dirksen Federal Building.

The jury returned Wednesday for closing arguments after a long weekend off.

Judge John Blakey began reading more than 100 pages of instructions to the jury at about 10:30 a.m.

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Closing arguments began after 2 p.m. They're expected to last three days.

While the trial is at the beginning of its end, closing arguments - like the trial itself - will be anything but straightforward.

Power and profit was on the first of the government's 800-slide PowerPoint presentation, prepared for that very moment.

Three months after testimony first began in Madigan's corruption trial, Assistant U.S Attorney Julia Schwartz kicked off what is expected to be a day-and-a-half closing.

"Michael Madigan and Michael McClain conspired to conserve Madigan's power and line Madigan's pockets," Schwartz said.

She started by breaking down the 117-page 23-count indictment for the jury.

She identified the five episodes of racketeering activity that have been covered over the course of the trial, and then went through a detailed point-by-point explanation of the first and most extensive of those episodes.

One involved ComEd and the allegations that the utility company bribed Madigan in exchange for his help getting crucial legislation approved in Springfield.

"For years, Madigan used ComEd as his personal piggybank: a place to park his people," said Schwartz, as she re-played for the jury just some of the countless wiretapped phone calls presented during the trial.

"This is their opportunity to put it all together in a timeline, so that people know that when there was a call, then there was an action. And that brings, if you're the government, that brings the quid pro quo together. And so, that's their challenge," former Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Collins said.

Collins prosecuted Gov. George Ryan in 2005 and 2006. Speaking at the courthouse Wednesday afternoon, Collins also weighed in on jury deliberations.

"I think what happens in longer cases, particularly when a defendant takes the stand, the jurors are either going to accept Mr. Madigan's testimony or not. And that will make it, I think, a shorter deliberation, one way or another," Collins said.

The government's closing is expected to take up most of the day Thursday before moving on to both Madigan and McClain.

The case could go to the jury by Monday.

Former federal prosecutor Chris Hotaling joined ABC7 to discuss key points presented by the prosecution and the defense.