Judge tells key witness in Madigan corruption case he handed defense 'a
gift'
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[April 06, 2024]
By Brett Rowland | The Center Square
(The Center Square) – A key witness in former Illinois House Speaker
Michael Madigan's upcoming corruption trial was caught lying on a
federal form to buy a gun, a major blow for prosecutors and a surprise
boon for Madigan's defense team.
Fidel Marquez, the former ComEd executive who cooperated with federal
investigators in the corruption probe, tried to buy a gun in March in
another state. When he filled out the federal form, he answered "no" to
the question that asked if he was "under indictment or information in
any court for a felony." Marquez also responded "no" to a question on
the form that asked if he had been convicted of a felony.
Marquez pleaded guilty to a single count of conspiracy to commit bribery
in 2020. That felony popped up during the gun purchase process.
"The mandatory review process flagged the charge in the information, and
the transaction was denied through the review process," prosecutors
wrote in a request for a hearing on the matter. "Marquez did not receive
the firearm he attempted to purchase."
Judge Mary Rowland admonished Marquez during a court appearance on
Friday, according to a report from the Chicago Tribune.
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Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan walks out of the
Everett M. Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in Chicago on Wednesday, Jan. 3,
2024. - Brett Rowland | The Center Square
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"The thing that you have is your credibility – that's it," the judge
told Marquez during a brief status hearing, the Tribune reported.
"And you have now handed a gift to Madigan's defense attorneys. It
is a first-year law student's dream, basically, to do a
cross-examination like this."
Marquez served as a crucial witness for federal prosecutors during
the trial of four former ComEd executives and lobbyists last year.
He spent five days on the stand in that case. A jury convicted all
four defendants in that 2023 trial. Sentencing in that case has been
delayed, but could continue later this year after a ruling from the
U.S. Supreme Court in an unrelated case that focuses on part of the
federal bribery statute.
Madigan, who resigned after losing the House speakership in January
2021, has been charged with 23 counts of racketeering, bribery, and
official misconduct in a case that could go to trial in October.
Madigan has denied wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty.
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