Quid pro quo allegations are key in Madigan corruption trial

[November 19, 2024]  By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Quid pro quo allegations are a key part of the U.S. government’s corruption case against former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and codefendant Michael McClain.

Madigan and McClain are facing 23 counts of bribery, racketeering and official misconduct. The longtime associates are accused of using Madigan’s public office to secure jobs for their associates by advancing legislation favorable to ComEd.

The utility admitted in 2020 that it sought to influence Madigan by placing his associates into jobs requiring little or no work. ComEd agreed to pay a fine of $200 million and cooperate with the federal investigation in exchange for an agreement that prosecutors drop a bribery charge against the utility.

Government attorneys have built their case by introducing a series of witnesses, documents, emails and wiretapped conversations.

In a call dated February 20, 2019, McClain told former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore and ComEd lobbyist John Hooker that he responded to requests from Madigan’s son Andrew.

“I wanted to have a drink with Andrew because I get assignments from his dad, but I also get assignments from him,” McClain said during the recorded conversation.

McClain also expressed concerns about Joe Dominguez, who was Pramaggiore’s replacement as ComEd CEO.

“Joe, I don’t think he really respects Madigan,” McClain said.

McClain had previously noted that Dominguez was a former prosecutor.

“I wouldn’t trust Joe. I would trust Joe to think that this is a quid pro quo, and that he’s wired,” McClain added.

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

In May 2023, a jury convicted McClain, Pramaggiore, Hooker and lobbyist Jay Doherty in a multi-year scheme to bribe Madigan with no-show jobs, contracts and payments to associates in exchange for support with legislation that would benefit the utility's bottom line. The “ComEd Four” are still awaiting sentencing.

Former State Rep. Jeanne Ives, R-Wheaton, told The Center Square that she is not convinced that Madigan would be convicted.

“The jury may actually see this not as a quid pro quo, as a specific ask got a specific receipt. They may just think this is business as normal,” Ives told The Center Square.

Madigan served as a state representative from 1971 to 2021. He was speaker for all but two years between 1983 and 2021. Madigan also chaired the Democratic Party of Illinois for 23 years.

Judge John Robert Blakey advised jurors Monday that the trial would continue through mid-January. The judge had asked prosecutors and defense attorneys for revised estimate earlier this month.

During jury selection, Blakey had suggested that the trial would last about 10 weeks. He revised the estimate to 11 a few weeks ago. Last week he said, according to his math, the trial would take about 14 weeks, not including jury deliberations.

United States of America v. Madigan et al is scheduled to resume Tuesday morning at the Everett McKinley Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in Chicago.

Brett Rowland contributed to this story.