Lawyers for former House Speaker Michael Madigan formally introduced their case earlier than the jury Thursday after calling 12 witnesses, notably Madigan himself.
Prosecutors plan to launch a quick cross-examination earlier than closing the proof part of the trial, which started in October.
In an indication of how disjointed the historic trial has been at occasions, Madigan’s legal professionals started calling witnesses practically a month in the past, on Dec. 19, however there have been solely six days of testimony since then.
The jury was informed to return Thursday morning so legal professionals may argue the excellent points, however in what has change into routine in a sophisticated case, these discussions labored additional time.
The legal professionals argued for practically two hours over excellent points, together with jury directions and proof proposed within the prosecution’s rebuttal. An additional delay occurred after the FBI, on the request of Madigan’s legal professionals, despatched a field of investigative notes to its headquarters on West Roosevelt Road for potential use throughout cross-examination of an agent.
The choose at one level steered sending the jury out for an early lunch, however the plan was shelved. Madigan’s co-defendant, Michael McClain, whose look had been waived, arrived within the midst of the arguments and his lawyer requested for data to point he was in courtroom.
“Yes, the file ought to mirror that just about nothing was misplaced,” U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey stated.
Blakey informed the jury that closing arguments within the case will possible start Wednesday and final three full days.
Deliberations will possible start the week of January 27. The jury should take into account three months of proof and type by means of greater than 100 pages of advanced directions earlier than reaching a verdict.
The closing courtroom witness for the protection was Heather Wier Vaught, Madigan’s former authorized counsel, who testified Wednesday that key laws pushed by ComEd and AT&T got here amid a “political warfare” with then-Gov. Bruce Rauner and handed solely after months of negotiations and compromises.
But Wier Vaught, who labored for the speaker’s workplace for greater than a decade and have become the workplace’s prime lawyer, was additionally questioned about her loyalty to Madigan and her efforts to circle the wagons after l he investigation into the speaker’s operation was made public with a collection of FBI raids in 2019.
Also Wednesday, the jury heard that if he had been known as to testify, Gov. J.B. Pritzker would have stated he had no recollection of an alleged assembly with Madigan shortly after Pritzker’s 2018 election, or any dialogue about Daniel Solis, the alderman-turned-alderman. FBI mole, getting a profitable state board seat or his daughter getting one other job.
“If known as as a witness, Governor J.B. Pritzker would testify that he doesn’t recall assembly with Michael Madigan on December 4, 2018 and that he doesn’t recall Madigan ever discussing or recommending Daniel Solis or Maya Solis, both orally or in writing, for any place in a state board or fee,” states a protection clause learn into the file.
This echoes a press release launched by Pritzker’s camp on the day Madigan was indicted practically three years in the past, saying he had agreed to an interview with the feds, however “doesn’t recall” Madigan ever asking him to contemplate Solis “for any place,” and that the administration has no file of the alleged advice.
Over the course of the case, Madigan’s crew additionally known as a number of different staffers, together with David Ellis, Justin Cox and Craig Willert, in addition to his former regulation companion, Vincent “Bud’ Getzendanner.
But by far crucial protection witness was Madigan himself, who, in a transfer that shocked Illinois political circles, in addition to most courtroom observers and consultants, took the witness stand final week to testify in his personal protection.
Madigan painted a portrait of himself as a hard-working, man of integrity and as a consensus builder who encourages enter from a number of channels earlier than making a choice. He additionally repeatedly and emphatically informed the jury underneath oath that he was harmless of fees that he betrayed his public workplace and that he traded official actions for authorized work and profitable contracts for his associates.
But his testimony additionally opened the door to proof that the choose had beforehand blocked prosecutors from elevating points, together with a doubtlessly damaging wiretapped telephone name through which Madigan and his longtime confidante, Michael McClain, shared amusing about what number of cash a few of their associates had been incomes for a very long time. little work.
“Some of those guys have been appearing like bandits, Mike,” Madigan informed McClain in the course of the name, which was performed to the jury throughout Madigan’s cross-examination earlier this week.
“You’re laughing, sir, aren’t you?” Assistant U.S. Attorney Amarjeet Bhachu requested the previous speaker, who acknowledged that he did.
Madigan, 82, a Democrat from the Southwest Side, and McClain, 77, of southern Quincy state, are charged in a 23-count indictment alleging that Madigan’s vaunted political and state operations had been run as a prison enterprise to extend his energy and enrich himself and his associates. .
In addition to alleged bribery schemes involving ComEd and AT&T Illinois, the indictment accuses Madigan of pressuring builders to rent the speaker’s regulation agency and making an attempt to acquire enterprise by secretly supporting laws to switch state-owned land in Chinatown to the town in order that builders can construct a skyscraper.
jmeisner@chicagotribune.com
mcrepeau@chicagotribune.com
