Defense to begin case after former state rep testifies in Madigan corruption trial

[December 16, 2024]  By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s lawyers say they will subpoena witnesses for their defense, which is expected to start this week and is at least partially funded by campaign dollars.

Prosecutors said they expect to rest their case Tuesday, and Madigan’s defense attorneys said they will be ready to start that day.

Madigan and codefendant Michael McClain are charged with 23 counts of bribery, racketeering and official misconduct in connection with a scheme government attorneys have called, “The Madigan Enterprise.”

Prosecutors allege that ComEd and AT&T Illinois gave out no-work or little-work jobs and contract work to those loyal to Madigan to get legislation passed that would benefit them in Springfield. Four ComEd executives and lobbyists were convicted last year in a related trial, and ComEd itself agreed to pay $200 million in fines as part of a deferred prosecution agreement with prosecutors.

Madigan has used money from his campaign fund to pay for his defense.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker said he understands the debate about politicians using campaign funds against allegations of corruption.

“I understand when you’re a public official, people sometimes get accused improperly. I’m not suggesting that’s the case here, but sometimes they get accused or end up on trial for something they didn’t do,” Pritzker said Thursday at an unrelated news conference.

Government attorney Sarah Streicker called lobbyist Thomas Cullen to the witness stand Wednesday. Cullen worked for Madigan from 1987 to 1999 in both the Speaker’s office and the Democratic Party of Illinois, which Madigan chaired for 23 years.

Prosecutors say AT&T made payments to former state Rep. Eddie Acevedo, D-Chicago, through Cullen’s lobbying firm. Prosecutors say Acevedo also received payments from ComEd through a contract lobbyist.

Acevedo was sentenced in 2022 to six months in prison for tax evasion.

In a wiretapped call dated Nov. 20, 2018, lobbyist and former state Rep. John Bradley, D-Marion, told McClain about his subcontractors, including Acevedo.

“I think all of our contractual folks are moving along OK. I haven’t heard any complaints from anybody. I think the Quinn project is OK so far, and the other two I don’t hear much out of ‘em unless Eddie Acevedo doesn’t get his check within 12 hours of when he thinks he’s supposed to get it,” Bradley told McClain.

A frame from undercover video captured July 18, 2017, featuring former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan presented to a jury during Madigan's corruption trial Monday, Nov. 25, 2024.

On Dec. 5, 2018, McClain and then-ComEd executive Fidel Marquez discussed the “magic list of lobbyists.”

“Which brings me to the perennial question, um, Eddie Acevedo?” Marquez asked.

“You can get rid – you can get rid of him,” McClain answered.

“I can get rid of Eddie?” Marquez asked.

“Yep,” McClain confirmed.

“All right, so he’s not gonna go screaming to the Spe—, he’s gonna go screaming to our friend anyway,” Marquez said.

“No matter what,” McClain said.

Judge John Robert Blakey ruled last Wednesday that Acevedo would be required to testify over objections by defense attorneys.

Acevedo’s attorney, Gabrielle Sansonetti, said her client had dementia.

Blakey said the court considered the entire record and pointed to the distinction between the credibility of the witness and competency to testify. He then instructed Acevedo to report to the courtroom Monday morning.

At Blakey’s suggestion, attorneys discussed having Acevedo provide video testimony in case his live testimony were to be stricken from the record. Defense attorneys for Madigan and McClain indicated that the Rule 15 video testimony would not be necessary.

AT&T executive Deno Perdiou might also return to the witness stand this week. Perdiou testified last Tuesday about carrier-of-last-resort (COLR) legislation in the General Assembly related to AT&T. Perdiou said several COLR relief bills failed before AT&T officials had a meeting with Madigan in 2017.

Perdiou did not return Wednesday due to what the Blakey referred to as a “personal issue.”

Trial proceedings are scheduled from Monday, Dec. 16 through Thursday, Dec. 19. No court is scheduled the week of Christmas.

Depending on the judge’s instructions, the trial would resume Monday, Dec. 30 or Thursday, Jan. 2 at the Everett McKinley Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in Chicago.

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