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A jury convicted Pramaggiore and three others in May 2023 of
bribery-related charges as part of a multi-year scheme to
corruptly influence longtime former Illinois House Speaker
Michael Madigan in exchange for favorable legislation in
Springfield. Prosecutors said that the utility paid out $1.3
million in jobs, contracts and payments to associates of Madigan
over eight years. Pramaggiore has not yet been sentenced in that
case and is appealing the criminal conviction.
In the SEC case, Pramaggiore previously asked to put everything
on hold until the U.S. Supreme Court decides a case focused on
the federal bribery statute.
Judge Franklin Valderrama said proceeding at this point would
put Pramaggiore "between a rock and a hard place."
"Pramaggiore argues that the SEC will not be prejudiced if the
Court grants the stay, pointing out that the SEC waited for
years to bring this action," the judge wrote in the order. "The
Court agrees. The SEC's invocation of its interest in
'expeditious civil litigation' rings hollow, as the SEC delayed
bringing this action against Pramaggiore for years."
The judge ordered a stay in the case "until the parallel
criminal proceedings, including any appeals or retrials, are
complete."
In December 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court decided to take up the
case of James E. Snyder v. U.S. A decision in that case is
expected in May, June or July.
The SEC's complaint against Pramaggiore alleges she participated
in, and in some instances directed, the bribery scheme. The
complaint alleges that Pramaggiore did not disclose the bribery
scheme and instead misled investors when she characterized
ComEd's lobbying activities as legitimate. The complaint also
alleges that, as part of the scheme, Pramaggiore lied to
Exelon's auditors and filed false certifications.
Pramaggiore's defense team previously asked for a stay in the
SEC case, citing in part her "strong likelihood of success" in
overturning her conviction. Pramaggiore also recently got a
reprieve from her sentencing in the federal criminal case while
the U.S. Supreme Court takes up a case focused on the federal
bribery statute she was convicted of violating.
Pramaggiore's defense team noted that the judge overseeing her
criminal case had paused sentencing in that case until after the
Supreme Court decision in the Snyder case.
The SEC opposed the stay.
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