Defense rests case in trial of former IL House Speaker Michael Madigan

Closing arguments expected Wednesday

Michelle Gallardo Image
Thursday, January 16, 2025
Defense rests case in trial of former Illinois House Speaker Madigan
The defense rested its case in former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan's bribery and corruption trial on Thursday.

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The defense rested its case in former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan's bribery and corruption trial at the Dirksen Federal Building on Thursday.

The jury was sent home early, and will return for closing arguments.

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Closing arguments are scheduled to start next Wednesday because of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, and are expected to last three days.

Judge John Blakey denied co-defendant Mike McClain's renewed motion to sever his case from the former speaker's, and he denied motions of acquittal from both Madigan's and McClain's attorneys.

Lawyers argue that McClain is unable to receive a fair trial if his case is considered with Madigan's.

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When the government rested Thursday, it brought to a close what has been a complex three-month-long case with dozens of witnesses taking the stand, including Madigan himself. But, the case is not in the hands of the jury just yet.

The exceptionally brief day saw prosecutors call a single rebuttal witness: FBI Agent Ryan McDonald.

He took the stand for a fourth time this trial to tie up some loose ends. And then it was over.

The trial included testimony from two government moles in the form of former ComEd Executive Fidel Marquez and former 25th Ward Alderman Danny Solis, both of whom recorded dozens of their conversations, both in-person and over the phone, with both Madigan and McClain.

A 117-page, 23-count superseding indictment accuses Madigan of running a decade-long criminal conspiracy, with the help of his close friend and former lobbyist, McClain, who the government says solicited bribes on the then-speaker's behalf.

Those bribes, they say, were given by ComEd and AT&T in the form of contracts and no-show jobs for his political allies. Madigan is also accused of using his position in Springfield to enrich himself, getting public officials, like Danny Solis, to steer business to his private tax law firm.

Attorneys will be back in court Tuesday to finish hashing out what are expected to be some 100 pages of jury instructions.

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