The defense maintained that while lobbying and politics might seem unappealing, they are not inherently illegal.
Closing arguments continued Tuesday in the high-profile federal corruption trial of former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan and his close ally, Michael McClain.The trial, which began in mid-October, centers on allegations of bribery, extortion, and racketeering involving Madigan’s influence over state politics.Michael McClain’s attorney, Patrick Cotter, concluded his closing arguments by challenging the prosecution’s evidence and urging jurors to avoid assumptions.
Cotter highlighted inconsistencies in testimony from the government’s star witness, former Chicago Alderman Danny Solis, and warned jurors against conflating coincidental events with causation."Two things happening at the same time does not mean one caused the other," Cotter said.Cotter used a metaphor to illustrate his point, comparing the case to a schoolboy named Johnny who gives his teacher an apple and later earns an 'A' on a test.
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