A federal jury has begun deliberating in the corruption trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. Prosecutors allege Madigan used his powerful position for personal gain and to enrich himself and his allies. Madigan denies all wrongdoing.
A federal jury commenced deliberations on Wednesday afternoon in the trial of Michael Madigan , the former Illinois House speaker, who faces multiple charges of corruption, bribery, and racketeering. This historic 12-week case encompassed over 150 witnesses and included Madigan taking the stand to defend himself. Madigan is indicted on 23 counts, encompassing bribery, racketeering, and wire fraud.
Prosecutors allege that he exploited his influence, not only as speaker but also as the head of the Democratic Party of Illinois, for personal gain and to accumulate even more power. He is also accused of having private tax work illegally directed to his law firm. Longtime ally Michael McClain is a co-defendant in Madigan's corruption trial. Deliberations may span several days as the jury analyzes 23 charges, ranging from racketeering to bribery, with potential ramifications for the future of Illinois politics.Prosecutors have anchored their case against Madigan on two central themes: power and profit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Schwartz initiated the government's closing arguments by presenting these words to the jury, contending they encapsulate Madigan's alleged actions spanning decades. 'Michael Madigan and Michael McClain conspired to amplify Madigan's power and enrich Madigan's coffers,' Schwartz told jurors, accusing Madigan of abusing his authority to manipulate legislation and derive financial benefits. At the heart of the case are allegations that Madigan accepted bribes from ComEd, which prosecutors assert included hiring his political allies for no-show positions worth nearly $5 million in exchange for passing favorable legislation. Schwartz labeled ComEd Madigan's 'personal piggy bank' during the closing argument, emphasizing the scope of the alleged corruption.Defense attorneys have portrayed Madigan as a dedicated public servant, characterizing him as 'incorruptible.' Madigan, who 'adamantly' denied wrongdoing in the past, took the witness stand in his defense. 'When people asked me for help, if possible, I tried to help them,' said Madigan, clad in a grey suit and maintaining direct eye contact with jurors as he spoke. His defense attorney posed a series of questions, including whether he had ever traded public office for private gain or accepted anything of value in exchange for a promise of official action. Each time, Madigan answered, 'No.' He delved into his early jobs working for the city, including driving a garbage truck. Madigan recounted meeting his wife and raising his children. One of his children, former Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, sat in the packed courtroom during his testimony. Defense attorneys attempted to humanize the speaker, referring to him as 'Mike' during questioning. Madigan described a challenging upbringing in a middle-class Chicago neighborhood near Midway International Airport, sharing stories about having an angry, alcoholic father and having little say in his education or employment opportunities. The atmosphere was far from 'nurturing,' he stated. 'In that house, my parents never told me that they loved me. They never embraced. They never hugged.' Madigan's defense attorney, Dan Collins, concentrated on discrediting the federal government's key witness, former Chicago Ald. Danny Solis, who secretly recorded conversations with Madigan as part of his cooperation agreement with prosecutors. Collins labeled Solis as 'a malignant tumor at the heart of this case,' accusing him of being untrustworthy and self-serving. 'Solis is a stage actor… taking direction from the government.' 'Mike only knew one side,' Collins asserted, suggesting Madigan was oblivious to Solis' alleged criminal behavior, including extorting developers for personal gain. 'There were two Danny Solis's,' Collins told the jury. '(Mike) didn’t know how Solis was shaking down developers to get (erectile dysfunction) pills. You cannot trust Danny Solis. He’s got his own agenda and he's sly as a fox.' The defense also refuted the notion that Madigan traded legislation for favors, arguing that any no-work contracts were not bribes but rather instances of political recommendations unrelated to official actions. 'The fact that some of them did not work is aggravating… But they’re not part of a bribe. Mike did not recommend them in return for an official action,' Collins stated. Collins also questioned McClain's role, portraying him as leveraging his relationship with Madigan to elevate his own status, mockingly referring to him as 'Mr. Important.' Collins concluded his closing argument by urging jurors to maintain an open mind when deliberations begin. 'Remember, just because the government said it, does not make it so. It’s your job to be the wall and hold them to that burden,' Collins said. Madigan, 82, served for 50 years in the state legislature representing a district on the Southwest Side of Chicago
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