Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan will take the stand in his ongoing corruption trial, his defense attorneys announced.
In a surprising move, former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan will testify Tuesday in his ongoing corruption trial, defense attorneys announced.At this time it is unclear what the former speaker will discuss during his testimony, and it is unclear how long he will remain on the stand. Defense attorneys have been laying out their case in recent days in the trial, which was paused during the holiday season.
Former AT&T lobbyist Stephen Selke was one of the defense's key witnesses, spelling out how Illinois House members were lobbied in Springfield. His testimony sought to add fuel to the arguments of both Madigan and Michael McClain, a close confidant of the former speaker, that they engaged in nothing more than the normal give and take of the lobbying process. The prosecution had rested their case in December, capping off nearly three months of testimony and taped conversations between Madigan and a slew of Illinois political leaders and lobbyists. More than 150 tapes, wiretaps and transcripts have been entered into evidence during the trial, with prosecutors aiming to lay out their case that Madigan allegedly traded jobs and favors in exchange for his favorable votes while he was the speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives. Madigan, once Illinois’ most powerful political leader, was indicted on 23 counts of bribery, racketeering, extortion and wire fraud in connection with the corruption investigation that has resulted in numerous convictions and prison sentences for other officials and lobbyists.Prosecutors accused Madigan of leading a “criminal enterprise” as part of an effort to enhance his political power, while generating income for allies and associates. Danny Solis is the government's star witness against once-powerful Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan, but on Monday, Madigan’s attorneys took aim at the former Chicago alderman.
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