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U.S. District Judge Harry Leinenweber denied motions by former
state lawmaker and lobbyist Michael McClain, former ComEd CEO
Anne Pramaggiore, former ComEd lobbyist John Hooker and former
contract lobbyist Jay Doherty. A jury convicted the four of all
counts against them in May 2023. After the verdict, the
defendants had asked for an acquittal or a new trial.
Leinenweber wrote in a 94-page decision that they weren't
entitled to either.
"Ultimately, the Court cannot acquit on any count," he wrote.
McClain, Pramaggiore, Hooker and Doherty have yet to be
sentenced and it is not yet clear when they will be sentenced.
All four have asked the judge to put their sentencing hearings
on hold while the U.S. Supreme Court considers another case
focused on the federal bribery statute.
At trial, prosecutors presented secretly recorded videos,
wiretapped phone calls and hundreds of emails to show how the
four former ComEd executives and lobbyists were "the
grandmasters of corruption."
Prosecutors said that the utility paid out $1.3 million in jobs,
contracts and payments to associates of former Illinois House
Speaker Michael Madigan over eight years in exchange for
favorable treatment on legislation in Springfield that would
affect the finances of the state's largest utility.
Defense attorneys said the four never bribed anyone and argued
the conduct was legal lobbying, including efforts to build
goodwill with elected officials.
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, has been charged with 23 counts of racketeering,
bribery, and official misconduct alongside McClain in a separate
case that could go to trial in October.
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 jobs, vendor subcontracts and payments in a bid to
influence Madigan.
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