In a stunning and dangerous transfer, former House Speaker Michael Madigan is planning to take the stand in his public corruption trial, his legal professionals mentioned in court docket Tuesday.
After a morning break, Madigan’s lead legal professional, Dan Collins, informed the choose that Madigan could be the subsequent witness. But there’s a sticking level: whether or not Madigan ought to waive his proper to not testify at a forfeiture listening to if he’s convicted.
U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey informed the events to evaluation the case regulation and return to the courtroom at midday for additional argument.
A defendant’s determination to testify on his personal behalf is an uncommon technique in any case, not to mention in a high-profile federal corruption trial. But Madigan, the so-called “Velvet Hammer,” is thought for his sharp thoughts and his mastery of delicate political conditions – and he apparently calculated that the chance of cross-examination was manageable.
As Madigan left the courtroom for an early lunch break, he and his daughter, former Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, walked down the aisle collectively, leaning silently towards one another in dialog.
The former speaker and his daughter, together with a number of different supporters, then gathered round a big desk in Dirksen’s U.S. courthouse cafeteria, killing time earlier than what could possibly be crucial testimony of the trial.
Madigan, who has reigned over Illinois politics for many years, is accused of a years-long scheme to make use of his public affect for his personal personal achieve and run his political operations like a felony enterprise. He might face a major jail sentence if convicted, even at his superior age, and his time behind bars could possibly be elevated if the choose finds he lied on the witness stand.
His testimony could be probably the most vital of its form in federal court docket in Chicago since former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich tried unsuccessfully to persuade a jury of his innocence greater than a decade in the past. But it could be a good larger shock, provided that Blagojevich is thought to speak to anybody who will pay attention about his authorized travails whereas Madigan is thought to say little.
Madigan can be battle-tested below strain. For half a century it has answered chopping questions from journalists and withstood many years of scrutiny.
Madigan’s co-defendant and longtime confidante, Michael McClain, selected to not testify within the present case. Even former Ald. Ed Burke at trial. Burke was convicted of racketeering in late 2022 and is at the moment serving a two-year jail sentence.
Madigan’s determination to testify comes practically two years after two defendants in Madigan’s “ComEd Four” trial — former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore and lobbyist John Hooker — took the stand as witnesses in that trial.
The guess didn’t bear fruit for both Pramaggiore or Hooker, each of whom had been convicted of all prices in opposition to them. Also convicted in that trial had been McClain and marketing consultant and former City Club of Chicago president Jay Doherty, who selected to not testify.
A choose is at the moment contemplating a request throw away beliefs based mostly on a U.S. Supreme Court ruling final 12 months.
Madigan, 82, a Southwest Side Democrat, and McClain, 77, of Quincy, are charged with 23 counts alleging that Madigan’s vaunted political and authorities operations had been operated as a felony enterprise to amass and improve his energy and enrich himself and his associates.
In addition to bribery schemes involving ComEd and AT&T Illinois, the indictment alleges that Madigan pressured builders to rent the speaker’s regulation agency and tried to acquire enterprise by secretly supporting laws to switch state-owned land in Chinatown to town in order that builders might construct a high-rise.
Both Madigan and McClain have denied any wrongdoing.
The trial, which started on October 8, is nearing its conclusion, with remaining arguments doable as early as subsequent week.
Originally revealed:
