Judge tosses state lawmaker's testimony in Madigan corruption trial

[December 17, 2024]  By Brett Rowland | The Center Square

(The Center Square) – A judge told the jury in the corruption trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan without explanation Monday to disregard all testimony from Illinois state Rep. Bob Rita.

Rita, D-Blue Island, testified for about 10 minutes during the trial on Oct. 24, but never returned to the witness stand. On Monday, Judge John Robert Blakey told the jury that Rita wouldn't be part of the trial and to disregard all questions asked of him and all of his answers.

The judge didn't explain the reasons for the decision to the jury.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Amar Bhachu previously said there were "some things in play" with regard to Rita.

Rita testified in March 2023 during the related trial of four former ComEd executives and lobbyists accused of a long-running scheme to corruptly influence Madigan.

In that case, which was overseen by a different judge, Rita said Madigan exercised unchecked power over everything from committee assignments to when and if bills were called for a vote or left to die in the House Rules Committee.

Asked by prosecutors how Madigan obtained that power, Rita responded: "Through fear and intimidation." Rita further said that getting elected as a Democrat in Illinois without Madigan's support "could be very, very difficult."

Rita also told the jury what happened to people who didn't follow Madigan's orders. When former state Rep. Kenneth Dunkin sided with former Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner on a vote, Rita said the Democratic Party of Illinois recruited and funded a candidate to run against Dunkin in the next primary election.

Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan outside the federal court building in Chicago Dec. 4, 2024. - John Talamonti | The Center Square

Jurors in the case against Madigan and co-defendant Michael McClain have heard testimony from other witnesses about Madigan's powerful political position in Illinois.

Prosecutors have alleged that ComEd and AT&T Illinois gave out jobs and contract work to those loyal to Madigan to get legislation passed that would benefit them in Springfield.

ComEd agreed to pay $200 million in July 2020 to resolve a criminal investigation into the years-long bribery scheme. As part of a deferred prosecution agreement, ComEd admitted it arranged $1.3 million in jobs, vendor subcontracts and payments to influence Madigan. AT&T Illinois agreed to pay $23 million as part of its own deferred prosecution agreement in 2022.

Madigan served in the Illinois House from 1971 to 2021. He served as speaker of the Illinois House from 1983 to 1995 and again from 1997 to 2021. He wielded additional power as chairman of the Democratic Party of Illinois.

Madigan, who resigned after losing the House speakership in January 2021, faces 23 counts of racketeering, bribery and official misconduct. He has pleaded "not guilty."

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