Madigan Trial Week in Review

SPRINGFIELD (Capitol News Illinois) - 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 Madigan's fall from power, read Meisel's preview story here:

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 TWO: OCT. 28 – 31

Monday. Oct. 28

Madigan co-defendant warned ComEd CEO not to 'provoke a reaction from our Friend': Electric utility Commonwealth Edison was once again at the center of court proceedings as the week began. Tom O'Neill, a former top attorney for the company, testified that Madigan's apparent interest in a contract negotiation between ComEd and a political ally was "unusual." The jury also saw an email from McClain to ComEd's former CEO urging her to get involved with the contract's renewal or else "provoke a reaction from our Friend" – a nickname McClain often used for Madigan. Read the story here.

Tuesday, Oct. 29

ComEd execs joked Madigan co-defendant was 'double agent,' utility's former top lawyer testifies: O'Neill continued his testimony Tuesday, noting that some at ComEd referred to McClain as a "double agent" and that it was "hard to know which client he was serving." Even so, O'Neill said he didn't view McClain's practice of passing along the names of Madigan-affiliated job-seekers as bribes or even in violation of ComEd's internal policies. Read the story here.

Wednesday, Oct. 30

Madigan co-defendant had unparalleled access to speaker, ex-top aide testifies: In the Illinois Capitol, some lobbyists make calls in quiet corners, while others might hang out in a lawmaker's office. But no lobbyist had what McClain did: unfettered access to Madigan's office suite. While former top staffer-turned-lobbyist Will Cousineau was on the witness stand testifying about that access, the jury heard another wiretapped call in which McClain counseled Cousineau to "remember who our real client is," a reference to Madigan. Read the story here.

Thursday, Oct. 31

Wiretaps show McClain arranging checks for Madigan loyalist fired after #MeToo allegations: Cousineau remained on the stand through Thursday and was scheduled to return on Monday. A wiretapped call between him and McClain was central to Thursday's testimony. In it, McClain detailed a plan to get a small group of Madigan's allies – including Cousineau – to secretly pay $1,000 or more per month to ousted political staffer Kevin Quinn, who'd been fired after facing sexual harassment allegations. Read the story here.

WEEK ONE: OCT. 21 – 24

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.