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Madigan Trial Week in Review

Posted in ComEd Four, Politics, Springfield, The Chicago Way on November 27, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Capitol News Illinois reporter Hannah Meisel is covering the corruption trial of ex-Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan from the Dirksen Federal Courthouse in Chicago.

The former speaker, who left office under growing pressure related to the FBI investigation surrounding him in early 2021, faces 23 counts of racketeering, bribery, extortion and wire fraud.

To summarize, prosecutors allege he used his political power and various offices – including as a partner in his law firm – as a “criminal enterprise” to protect and enhance his power while enriching himself and his allies. But his defense attorneys argue the state is trying to criminalize the political process and baseline constituent services.

His co-defendant Mike McClain, a veteran Statehouse lobbyist and longtime Madigan confidant, was already convicted on public corruption charges last year in the separate but related “ComEd Four” trial.  The feds are again trying to show McClain is an “agent” of Madigan, while his defense attorneys say he simply engaged in legal relationship maintenance, a core function of lobbying

Below is a rundown of the coverage from the courtroom – where the trial is scheduled each Monday through Thursday well into December. This page will be updated as the trial progresses.

WEEK FIVE: NOV. 18 – 21 

Thursday, Nov. 21

Ex-Chicago Ald. Danny Solis, who secretly recorded Madigan for FBI, takes witness stand: As trial neared its conclusion for the week, ex-Chicago Ald. Danny Solis took the stand for what could be weeks of testimony. The star witness had cooperated with the FBI for years and told the jury that a bribery charge against him would be dropped if he testified against Madigan. The jury also learned that Solis’ wiretapped conversations with Madigan helped make the ex-speaker a target of the investigation in 2017, a year after Solis began cooperating. Read the story here.

Wednesday, Nov. 20

Madigan ally testifies he was rewarded with no-work contracts as ‘good soldier’ for speaker: Ed Moody held several political offices by the end of his career, thanks in large part to time he spent knocking doors on behalf of Madigan. He testified that Madigan and McClain helped him secure a $4,500 monthly contract through which he was paid indirectly by ComEd. Though he did little to no work for the utility, Moody said the payments were contingent on continuing his political work for Madigan. Read the story here.

Tuesday, Nov. 19

Wiretap: In pushing for Madigan-backed appointment, ex-ComEd CEO sought to ‘take good care’ of ‘our friend’: Chicago businessman Juan Ochoa, who was named to ComEd’s board after Madigan spent 1 ½ years pushing for the appointment, took the witness stand Tuesday. Jurors heard wiretaps regarding the appointment, including one of then-outgoing ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore telling McClain she set up a meeting between her replacement Ochoa. “You take good care of me, and so does our friend, and so I will do the best I can to take care of you,” she said. Read the story here.

Monday, Nov. 18

Madigan jury sees ‘Magic Lobbyist List’ seized from co-defendant during FBI search: McClain’s habit of printing out emails made FBI agents’ job a bit easier on May 14, 2019, as they searched his home office, another office area in the basement featuring a wall of filing cabinets and his car in the garage. The jury this week saw several of the seized documents from a series of coordinated raids, including McClain’s “magic list” of prominent Statehouse lobbyists with close ties to Madigan. Read the story here.

Coverage continues here.

For the full background on the trial, the yearslong investigation and Madigans’s fall from power, read Meisel’s preview story here: 4 decades after rising to power and nearly 4 years since his fall, former Speaker Madigan goes to trial

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McLaughlin Calls for Urgent Ethics Reforms in Illinois State Government

Posted in ComEd Four, Deception, Elections, Ethics, Open Meetings Act, Politics, Press Release, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Springfield, The Chicago Way on November 1, 2024| 1 Comment »

BARRINGTON HILLS – OCTOBER 31, 2024

State Representative Martin McLaughlin (R-Barrington Hills) issued the following statement after attending the ongoing corruption trial of former Speaker Mike Madigan.

Rep. McLaughlin said, “On this spooky day, as the trial of former Speaker Mike Madigan casts a shadow over Illinois politics, it’s clear that our state government needs to exorcise politicians who use the office to benefit themselves instead of for the benefit of the people.

“Today, I witnessed the corruption trial in person. The ruling Democrats of Illinois continue to undermine public trust, underscoring the urgent need for transparency and accountability in our political institutions.

Speaker Madigan’s long tenure has been plagued by allegations of bribery, influence peddling, and unethical practices that have eroded the faith of Illinoisans in their elected officials. The implications of this trial extend beyond one individual; they reveal the urgent necessity for reforms that restore integrity to our governance.”

The people of Illinois deserve a government that operates with the highest ethical standards. We must enact comprehensive reforms, including, but not limited to:

  • Independent Oversight: Establishing an independent ethics commission empowered to investigate misconduct and enforce ethical standards without political interference.
  • Campaign Finance Reform: Limiting contributions from individuals and organizations to reduce the influence of money in politics, ensuring equitable access for all constituents.
  • Conflict of Interest Laws: Defining and mandating reporting for conflicts of interest, ensuring lawmakers disclose any personal or financial interests that could influence their decisions.
  • Transparency in Government Contracts: Requiring public disclosure of all government contracts and expenditures, with detailed information on the bidding process to prevent favoritism and corruption.
  • Public Accountability Measures: Encouraging citizen engagement in the oversight process through public forums, advisory committees, and increased access to government meetings and documents.

As we move forward, it is essential for lawmakers to unite in prioritizing these crucial ethics reforms. The integrity of our government hinges on the trust of the people it serves, and Springfield politicians are falling far short of the minimum standards of governance.

Only through decisive action can we begin to rebuild that trust and ensure Illinois is governed by principles of honesty and responsibility. We urge all citizens to advocate for these reforms and hold their representatives accountable.

“Together, we can pave the way for a brighter, more transparent future for Illinois. This can only be achieved through meaningful reforms that bring true accountability back to the great people of Illinois,” concluded McLaughlin.

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Madigan Trial Week in Review

Posted in ComEd Four, Crime, Elections, Ethics, Politics, Property Taxes, Resident Spotlights, The Chicago Way on October 27, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan exits the Dirksen Federal Courthouse in Chicago on Monday, Oct. 21, after opening statements in his federal corruption concluded. | Capitol News Illinois photo by Andrew Adams

Capitol News Illinois reporter Hannah Meisel is covering the corruption trial of ex-Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan from the Dirksen Federal Courthouse in Chicago.

The former speaker, who left office under growing pressure related to the FBI investigation surrounding him in early 2021, faces 23 counts of racketeering, bribery, extortion and wire fraud.

For the full background on the trial, the yearslong investigation and Madigans’s fall from power, read Meisel’s preview story here: 4 decades after rising to power and nearly 4 years since his fall, former Speaker Madigan goes to trial

To summarize, prosecutors allege he used his political power and various offices – including as a partner in his law firm – as a “criminal enterprise” to protect and enhance his power while enriching himself and his allies. But his defense attorneys argue the state is trying to criminalize the political process and baseline constituent services.

His co-defendant Mike McClain, a veteran Statehouse lobbyist and longtime Madigan confidant, was already convicted on public corruption charges last year in the separate but related “ComEd Four” trial.  The feds are again trying to show McClain is an “agent” of Madigan, while his defense attorneys say he simply engaged in legal relationship maintenance, a core function of lobbying

Below is a rundown of the coverage from the courtroom – where the trial is scheduled each Monday through Thursday well into December. This page will be updated as the trial progresses.

Monday, Oct. 21

Madigan’s approach to power at center of opening statements in his corruption trial: The jury heard Madigan’s opening statements and got a first look at a key piece of evidence that has for years been teased in legal filings. In that grainy video, Madigan meets with Chicago Ald. Danny Solis to discuss how the speaker’s property tax appeals firm could get business from an apartment development project. But Solis, the chair of Chicago City Council’s powerful zoning board, was secretly wearing a video camera. Read the story here.

Tuesday, Oct. 22

Feds ‘turned over heaven and earth’ in Madigan probe but found no real bribes, co-defendant says: It was McClain’s day for opening statements on Tuesday as he sat at a defense table for the beginning of his second corruption trial in 19 months. His defense attorneys sought to show the government had tunnel vision as a result of its yearslong investigation into Madigan and “wrongly concluded that since Mike Madigan is powerful, therefore he must be corrupt.” The jury also heard from a pair of former lawmakers who had conflicts with Madigan. Read the story here.

Wednesday, Oct. 23

ComEd exec testifies utility prepared for bankruptcy before 2011 law threw it a lifeline: McClain’s role as electric utility Commonwealth Edison’s longtime top contract lobbyist is central to the trial. On Wednesday, a ComEd executive said the company was preparing for bankruptcy in 2007 and continued in “dire” financial straits before it successfully lobbied for a 2011 law that helped make it profitable again. How that measure became law – and whether it happened legally – was the focus of Wednesday’s court proceedings. Read the story here.

Thursday, Oct. 24

‘My client is the speaker’: Jury hears wiretapped calls of Madigan co-defendant, longtime friend: The jury heard witness testimony and nearly three dozen wiretapped phone calls on Thursday. Included were calls the feds hope will bolster their argument that McClain was Madigan’s “agent” – a term McClain himself sometimes used. In another call, McClain told a colleague: “Your client is only Mike Madigan. It’s not the Democratic Party … it’s not anybody that hired you, it’s not your mom and dad. The only person you care about is Mike Madigan.” Read the story here.

Capitol News Illinois

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Convicted ComEd 4 defendants ask judge to drop case after Supreme Court ruling

Posted in ComEd Four, Politics, Resident Spotlights, Springfield on August 29, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Associated Press photo

By Brett Rowland | The Center Square

Defense attorneys for the four former Commonwealth Edison executives and lobbyists convicted of bribing one of the state’s most powerful politicians have asked a judge to drop the case.

The four defendants, who have not be sentenced, want Judge Manish Shah to dismiss the indictment against them and issue an acquittal after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling on the federal bribery statute.

In June, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down part of a federal bribery statute that makes it a crime for state and local officials to accept gifts valued at over $5,000 from a donor who had previously been awarded contracts or other government benefits thanks to the official’s efforts. The 6-3 decision could affect how prosecutors across the country pursue public corruption cases.

On May 2, 2023, an Illinois jury convicted former state lawmaker and lobbyist Michael McClain, former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore, former ComEd lobbyist John Hooker and former contract lobbyist Jay Doherty. The case involved a conspiracy to bribe former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan with $1.3 million in no-show jobs, contracts and payments to associates in exchange for support with legislation that would benefit the utility’s bottom line.

This week, defense attorneys called the entire case “rotten.”

“On that foundation, the Government built an edifice of overlapping charges. But as with all structures, if the foundation is rotten, the structure will fall,” defense attorneys wrote in a memo in support of their request. “And in Snyder v. United States, the Supreme Court confirmed that the Government’s theory has been rotten from the start.”

Prosecutors have said the high court ruling in Snyder doesn’t require a new trial, but they have yet to respond to the latest motion from the defendants.

“Acquittal is the appropriate remedy for the Government’s strategic decision to rest its case on a rotten foundation,” defense attorneys wrote. “Defendants recognize that it is unusual to request a judgment of acquittal following a jury verdict based on a change in the law. But this is no ordinary case. Defendants in this case have been protesting their innocence from the start precisely because there was no quid pro quo that could form the basis of criminal liability.”

Story continues here, including PDF’s of filings.

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Prosecutors oppose new trial in ComEd case after Supreme Court decision

Posted in ComEd Four, Crime, Politics, Resident Spotlights on July 9, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Defendants in the ComEd 4 corruption trial listen as the federal jury reads its verdict. | Courtroom sketch courtesy of L.D. Chukman

By Brett Rowland | The Center Square

Federal prosecutors told a judge Tuesday that they oppose plans by defense attorneys to seek a new trial for four convicted former executives and lobbyists for the state’s largest utility after the U.S. Supreme Court blunted part of a federal bribery law last month.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Amarjeet Bhachu said a new trial wasn’t necessary and any possible errors in jury instructions related to the federal bribery statute were harmless.

“We don’t believe a new trial is necessary,” Bhachu said.

Former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore’s attorney, Scott Lassar, said after the Supreme Court ruling that a new trial was needed at minimum.

Judge Manish Shah gave defense attorneys until Aug. 27 to file motions for a new trial or other relief in the wake of the decision from the nation’s highest court. Prosecutors will have to respond by Oct. 15 and any replies will be due by Nov. 14.

No new sentencing date was set. Lassar said he may re-new his motion for a judgement of acquittal. He said no jury would have convicted his client if properly instructed.

Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down part of a federal bribery statute that makes it a crime for state and local officials to accept gifts valued at over $5,000 from a donor who had previously been awarded contracts or other government benefits thanks to the official’s efforts. The 6-3 decision could affect how prosecutors across the country pursue public corruption cases.

On May 2, 2023, an Illinois jury convicted former state lawmaker and lobbyist Michael McClain, former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore, former ComEd lobbyist John Hooker and former contract lobbyist Jay Doherty. The case involved a conspiracy to bribe former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan with $1.3 million in no-show jobs, contracts and payments to associates in exchange for support with legislation that would benefit the utility’s bottom line.

Read more here.

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SCOTUS ruling could upend federal corruption cases for Madigan, allies

Posted in BOHICA, ComEd Four, Crime, Politics, Springfield on June 26, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Court narrows scope of federal bribery law used to charge former speaker, ‘ComEd Four’

By HANNAH MEISEL | Capitol News Illinois

The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday narrowed the scope of a federal bribery law prosecutors have relied on in their cases against former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and several of his allies convicted of bribing him.

A jury last spring found those allies – former lobbyists and executives for electric utility Commonwealth Edison – guilty on all counts, while a judge earlier this year pushed Madigan’s trial to October in order to wait for the high court’s decision on the federal bribery statute.

In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court’s conservative majority ruled that the federal bribery statute – referred to as “Section 666” – does not criminalize “gratuities” given to a state or local public official after he or she has already performed an official act.

The high court’s decision narrowing the scope of Section 666 only to bribes, which require a quid pro quo, bolsters defense arguments made during last spring’s ComEd case.

Prosecutors alleged the utility bribed Madigan with jobs and contracts for the speaker’s allies in exchange for favorable legislation in Springfield. But attorneys for the “ComEd Four” argued the utility’s legislative wins were due to a multi-year strategic campaign, including spending big to contract with some of Springfield’s most influential lobbyists.

An attorney for close Madigan confidant Mike McClain, a longtime Springfield lobbyist who is a defendant in both bribery cases, predicted Wednesday that the ComEd case will have to be retried.

“We will be asking the court to vacate the conviction at a minimum,” attorney Patrick Cotter told Capitol News Illinois.

As for the case in which McClain is a co-defendant with Madigan, Cotter said his legal team would likely challenge the charges that rely on the federal bribery statute and may make other arguments, including that the grand jury indicted Madigan and McClain under an “incorrect” law.

Read more here.

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Legislation to ban new natural gas hookups in Illinois introduced in Springfield

Posted in ComEd Four, Going green, Politics, Property Taxes, Springfield, Taxes, Topics Of Interest, WTF on May 1, 2024| 1 Comment »

By Kevin Bessler | The Center Square

There’s talk about banning natural gas in Illinois.

A Democratic lawmaker has introduced legislation that would ban natural gas in new buildings.

The bill’s sponsor, state Sen. Celina Villanueva, D-Chicago, calls Senate Bill 3935 the Clean and Healthy Buildings Act.

“We must reduce pollution in our buildings and we must begin a managed transition away from dirty, expensive gas to more affordable clean energy solutions,” said Villanueva.

The subject has created a deep divide among Chicagoans after the idea was floated to the city council. Ald. Gilbert Villegas said it is much more expensive to heat a home with electricity.

“During the winter’s frigid temperatures, with tens of thousands of Chicagoans left without electricity, now is the worst possible time to hastily slam through an ordinance without examining true costs,” said Villegas.

Villegas added that a natural gas ban would cause the cost of electricity to spike, hurting low-income Illinoisans the most.

More here.

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Judge pauses SEC case against ex-ComEd boss Anne Pramaggiore

Posted in ComEd Four, Politics, Resident Spotlights, Springfield on April 20, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore | Twitter

By Brett Rowland | The Center Square

A federal judge has temporarily paused the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s case against former Commonwealth Edison boss Anne Pramaggiore.

A jury convicted Pramaggiore and three others in May 2023 of bribery-related charges as part of a multi-year scheme to corruptly influence longtime former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan in exchange for favorable legislation in Springfield. Prosecutors said that the utility paid out $1.3 million in jobs, contracts and payments to associates of Madigan over eight years. Pramaggiore has not yet been sentenced in that case and is appealing the criminal conviction.

In the SEC case, Pramaggiore previously asked to put everything on hold until the U.S. Supreme Court decides a case focused on the federal bribery statute.

Judge Franklin Valderrama said proceeding at this point would put Pramaggiore “between a rock and a hard place.”

“Pramaggiore argues that the SEC will not be prejudiced if the Court grants the stay, pointing out that the SEC waited for years to bring this action,” the judge wrote in the order. “The Court agrees. The SEC’s invocation of its interest in ‘expeditious civil litigation’ rings hollow, as the SEC delayed bringing this action against Pramaggiore for years.”

The judge ordered a stay in the case “until the parallel criminal proceedings, including any appeals or retrials, are complete.”

In December 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court decided to take up the case of James E. Snyder v. U.S. A decision in that case is expected in May, June or July.

The SEC’s complaint against Pramaggiore alleges she participated in, and in some instances directed, the bribery scheme. The complaint alleges that Pramaggiore did not disclose the bribery scheme and instead misled investors when she characterized ComEd’s lobbying activities as legitimate. The complaint also alleges that, as part of the scheme, Pramaggiore lied to Exelon’s auditors and filed false certifications.

Read more here.

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Convicted ex-utility boss wants to pause SEC civil case

Posted in ComEd Four, Crime, Resident Spotlights, Riding Club of Barrington Hills on March 4, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Anne Pramaggiore, ComEd senior vice president of regulatory and external affairs, left, and Bob McDonald, CFO of ComEd, speak to reporters during a news conference at the Capitol in Springfield, IL, Tuesday, May 8. 2007. | AP Photo/Seth Perlman

By Brett Rowland | The Center Square

A former Illinois utility boss convicted of public corruption last year has again asked a judge to put the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission civil case against her on hold.

Former Commonwealth Edison CEO Anne Pramaggiore was convicted in May 2023 of bribery-related charges as part of a multi-year scheme to corruptly influence longtime former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan in exchange for favorable legislation in Springfield. Prosecutors said that the utility paid out $1.3 million in jobs, contracts and payments to associates of Madigan over eight years.

Pramaggiore has not yet been sentenced in that case and is appealing the criminal conviction.a

She’s also fighting a civil case filed last year by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The SEC wants to bar her from serving as an officer or director of a public company, among other civil penalties.

In the SEC case, Pramaggiore wants to put everything on hold until the U.S. Supreme Court decides a case focused on the federal bribery statute.

The SEC’s complaint against Pramaggiore alleges she participated in, and in some instances directed, the bribery scheme. The complaint alleges that Pramaggiore did not disclose the bribery scheme and instead misled investors when she characterized ComEd’s lobbying activities as legitimate. The complaint also alleges that, as part of the scheme, Pramaggiore lied to Exelon’s auditors and filed false certifications.

Pramaggiore’s defense team previously asked for a stay in the SEC case, citing in part her “strong likelihood of success” in overturning her conviction. Pramaggiore also recently got a reprieve from her sentencing in the federal criminal case while the U.S. Supreme Court takes up a case focused on the federal bribery statute she was convicted of violating.

In December 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court decided to take up the case of James E. Snyder v. U.S.

Read more here.

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Illinois’ political corruption keeps people down

Posted in ComEd Four, Crime, Deception, Ethics, Politics, Springfield, Taxes on March 2, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Public corruption is one of the factors hampering social mobility in Illinois, according to a recent report. | Courtesy Washington Post

By Patrick Andriesen | Illinois Policy Institute

As if Illinois didn’t have enough issues with political corruption, now a report shows it helps keep disadvantaged Illinoisans from moving up.

Illinois’ culture of corruption has been so bad:

  • It averaged one conviction a week for decades.
  • The former and longest serving speaker of the Illinois House, Mike Madigan, is awaiting trial for corruption and some of his associates have already been convicted.
  • Four out of 10 of the past governors went to prison.
  • The state consistently ranks second-most corrupt in the nation as measured by number of federal corruption convictions.
  • Chicago ranking as the most corrupt city in the country.
  • Corruption cost Illinois taxpayers over $550 million a year, previous analysis calculated.

But hindering everyday Illinoisans’ efforts to pursue their version of the American Dream is an insidious cost. That’s according to an Archbridge Institute analysis of 21 countries that confirms Illinois is one of the most corrupt states in America.

It also points out how corruption hurts low-income people who most need to be empowered if they hope to climb the social ladder.

Read more here.

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