Jury completes tenth day of deliberations at Madigan corruption trial

[February 12, 2025]  By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square

(The Center Square) – A jury is still working toward a decision at the bribery and racketeering trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and codefendant Michael McClain.

Jurors made their tenth day of deliberations a shorter one Tuesday at the Everett McKinley Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in Chicago.

Judge John Robert Blakey read jury note No. 30 of the trial just before 3 p.m. The judge said the note informed the court, “We have reached our limit for today.” Blakey added that jurors indicated they would like to “start fresh” in the morning.

The judge proposed he would respond, “Sounds good,” and attorneys agreed.

U.S. government attorneys and Madigan’s lawyers joined the judge’s conference by phone. McClain attorneys Patrick Cotter and John Mitchell were present in court.

Blakey previously rejected defense attorneys’ joint request for an additional jury instruction on Monday. The request came after the jury asked for clarification about salary and things of value.

Blakey wrote that Judge Edmond Chang “provided a proper response to the jury over the objection of the parties.” Chang subbed on the bench last Friday in Blakey’s absence.

During a call recorded in September 2018, McClain and Madigan talked about then-Illinois Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, and negative ads about Madigan.

“Sorry about that stupid Cullerton move,” McClain said.

“Well, that’s what I want to talk to you about. What’s your take on what I should do?” Madigan asked.

“I’d let your agents do it for know. I mean, I’ve sent Cullerton a text message and I know other people are calling him and texting him. Right now, I’d let the agents give him body blows,” McClain answered.

Former Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich referred to the former speaker when talking with reporters about his own corruption trial after Blagojevich was pardoned by President Trump on Monday.

The former governor said the lead prosecutor in his case lied in court about his case.

“When I was testifying about what was on those tapes, they wouldn’t let me play the tapes in court to corroborate what I was saying. He goes and tells the jury, 'Go back in the jury room and listen to how many times he talks about the Madigan deal,’” Blagojevich said.

Blagojevich was asked if he thought Madigan was the victim of a weaponized prosecution.

“I’m not going to comment on that, and I haven’t been following that,” Blagojevich said.

Trump granted Blagojevich a full pardon after previously commuting the former Illinois governor’s 14-year prison sentence in 2020. Blagojevich began serving the sentence in 2012 after he was convicted of corruption charges in 2011.

Madigan has pleaded not guilty to 23 counts of bribery, racketeering and official misconduct. McClain is charged with six counts and has also pleaded not guilty.

Prosecutors allege that ComEd and AT&T Illinois gave out no-work or little-work jobs to Madigan allies in exchange for state legislation to benefit the companies.

In 2023, McClain and three others were convicted in the related ComEd Four trial, and ComEd 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 a deferred prosecution agreement in 2022.

Madigan and McClain are also accused of using Madigan’s public office to illegally steer business to his private law firm, Madigan & Getzendanner.

Madigan, D-Chicago, served in the Illinois House from 1971 to 2021 and was speaker for all but two years between 1983 and 2021. He chaired the Democratic Party of Illinois for 23 years. Madigan also led the 13th Ward Democratic Organization and served as 13th Ward committeeman.

McClain, D-Quincy, worked for years as a lobbyist after serving in the Illinois House from 1973 to 1982.

The jury is scheduled to resume deliberations at 9 a.m. Wednesday.

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