Judge orders uncooperative former state lawmaker to bring glasses to court

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

(The Center Square) – Former Illinois State Rep. Eddie Acevedo's testimony in a high-profile corruption case got off to a bumpy start Monday with a contempt warning from the judge.

Judge John Robert Blakey told Acevedo that if he forgets to bring his glasses to court again Tuesday, he could be held in contempt. His attorney, Gabrielle Sansonetti, said she'd buy her client a pair and bring them to court.

Acevedo made it clear he was testifying under the direction of the judge and not because he wanted to work with prosecutors. He was convicted of tax evasion in 2021 and served six months. The judge granted Acevedo immunity under the condition that he testify truthfully.

Acevedo served as a Chicago police officer for 22 years and spent another 20 years as a state lawmaker representing Chicago, including serving as the Assistant Majority Leader picked by former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan.

Prosecutors charged Madigan and co-defendant Michael McClain with 23 counts of bribery, racketeering and official misconduct. The federal government says they sought no-show jobs from state-regulated companies for political allies in exchange for passing legislation favorable to the companies in Springfield.

Moments after Acevedo took the stand as one of the final witnesses for the prosecution in a case that has stretched into its 11th week, it was clear his testimony wouldn't go smoothly.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Amar Bhachu, the lead prosecutor in the case, asked Acevedo if he ever did any real consulting work for AT&T and Commonwealth Edison. Acevedo said he did do work, apparently contradicting what he told FBI investigators and a grand jury.

During the 25 minutes or so Acevedo was on the stand Monday, Bhachu twice had to have the former lawmaker review his previous testimony. Acevedo said he couldn't remember what he testified to in 2019.

Sansonetti previously said her client had dementia. However, the judge allowed Acevedo to testify. Blakey previously said he 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.

Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan arriving at the federal court building in Chicago on Nov. 4, 2024 - Brett Rowland | The Center Square

Acevedo didn't take the stand until about 4:30 p.m. Monday and the judge ordered him to come back Tuesday.

Earlier on Monday, another witness told jurors that Acevedo's contract lobbying work for AT&T "was a joke" designed as cover in case the arrangement was questioned.

Prosecutors say AT&T paid Acevedo through Thomas Cullen's lobbying firm. They say Acevedo also received payments from ComEd through a contract lobbyist. Acevedo was sentenced in 2022 to six months in prison for tax evasion.

Cullen said Monday that Acevedo didn't do any contract lobbyist work. The report assigned to Acevedo "was a joke" because it had no value to the company and was only assigned in case someone questioned the arrangement, Cullen said.

Cullen said the $22,500 AT&T paid to Acevedo in 2017 and 2018 was "a lot more" than such lobbying work would have cost. He said Acevedo's assignment to write a report about the state's Latino caucus was to justify payments to him in case someone questioned the financial arrangement.

Cullen also testified that he was unaware of any work Acevedo produced for AT&T and that Acevedo didn't ask for assignments.

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 the companies in Springfield. A jury convicted four former ComEd executives and lobbyists 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. AT&T Illinois agreed to pay $23 million as part of its own deferred prosecution agreement in 2022.

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