Opening statements in the landmark corruption case against former House Speaker Michael Madigan and his longtime confidante were expected to begin Monday after the completion of an often arduous jury selection process that has stretched on for nearly two weeks.
Madigan, 82, the “Velvet Hammer” who served for decades as speaker of the Illinois House and head of the state Democratic Party, is charged with racketeering for running his state and political operations as a criminal enterprise and scheming made with utility giants ComEd and AT&T to give his cronies contracts that require little or no work and use his public position to win business for his private law firm.
Both Madigan and his co-defendant, Michael McClain, 77, a former ComEd lobbyist, have pleaded not guilty and denied wrongdoing.
The eight-woman, four-man panel of permanent jurors was finalized Thursday after six long days of questioning in the courtroom. The panel includes at least six people from Chicago, including two from the city’s 19th Ward on the Far Southwest Side. Others come from as far away as Aurora, Downers Grove and Ingleside in northern Lake County.
Many of those selected said they had only heard of Madigan in passing and did not know the details of the charges against him, other than an occasional news report. At least three said they wanted to be selected for the historic trial for various reasons. They all promised lawyers that they could put aside everything they had heard and make a fair judgment.
U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey scheduled opening statements in the case Monday afternoon after two final alternate jurors were selected.
The trial, which will last at least 11 weeks, is the culmination of one of the largest political corruption investigations ever in the Dirksen U.S. courthouse, given Madigan’s status as the longest-serving leader of any legislative chamber in the country. for decades had an ironclad grip on the state legislature, but also on the Democratic Party and its political spoils.
While the courthouse has seen a parade of powerful councilors, legislators and even governors come and go — including most recently former Ald. Edward Burke, who was convicted of racketeering in December and is now serving a two-year prison sentence — no one has had Madigan’s unique combination of longevity and influence on issues affecting every corner of the state.
Madigan was unseated as speaker in early 2021 as the investigation centered on him, and shortly after resigned from the House seat he has held since 1971. Following his indictment in March 2022, he issued a statement denying ever being involved in any criminal activity and explosions. prosecutors for “attempts to criminalize lawful political actions.”
“Throughout my 50 years as a public servant, I have worked to meet the needs of my constituents, always keeping in mind the high standards and the trust the public has placed in me,” Madigan said. “I vehemently deny these allegations and look back with pride on my time as an elected official serving the people of Illinois.”
To strengthen their case against Madigan, prosecutors plan to call a well-known group of former Democratic insiders and experts, some of whom will testify for a second or third time.
Among them: Democratic state Rep. Bob Rita, who testified in the ComEd Four case that Madigan ruled “by fear and intimidation”; Tom Cullen, a lobbyist and former political guru from Madigan, who testified about the speaker’s absolute power over legislation moving through the House of Representatives; Ed Moody, the legendary 13th Ward precinct captain who landed a no-show consulting job at ComEd; and Will Cousineau, who explained that last-minute arm-twisting orchestrated by Madigan on the House floor in 2016 got major ComEd legislation passed.
Madigan’s jury will also hear from another key associate, former ComEd vice president Fidel Marquez, who turned heel after being confronted by the FBI in early 2019 and recording a series of meetings with McClain, then-CEO Anne Pramaggiore, lobbyist John Hooker and consultant Jay Doherty. in which they discussed their secret attempts to pay Madigan’s associates.
But the biggest difference this time — aside from Madigan himself sitting at the defense table — will be the testimony of Solis, the prosecution’s star witness who, starting in 2016, made dozens of undercover video and audio recordings of Madigan that have not yet been seen or released. heard in public.
Solis is not expected to appear until sometime in November, and his testimony could last a week or more depending on what is sure to be a lengthy cross-examination.
jmeisner@chicagotribune.com
mcrepeau@chicagotribune.com
rlong@chicagotribune.com
