Defense rests and rebuttal concludes at ex-Illinois House speaker’s corruption trial

[January 17, 2025]  By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Closing arguments are scheduled to begin next Wednesday at the corruption trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and codefendant Michael McClain.

U.S. government attorneys wrapped up their rebuttal about 30 minutes after the Madigan defense team rested its case Thursday at the Everett McKinley Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in Chicago.

FBI Special Agent Ryan McDonald reported to the witness stand for a fourth time during the trial. Before testifying during the rebuttal case, McDonald had previously been called twice by the government and once by Madigan’s defense team.

McDonald answered questions about a meeting investigators had via video conference with Madigan’s former law partner, Vincent “Bud” Getzendanner, and Getzendanner’s attorney in February 2021. McDonald testified that Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah Streicker and Amar Bhachu were also present for the conference.

McDonald said Getzendanner recalled pitch meetings for his firm with former Chicago Alderman Daniel Solis in attendance. McDonald also testified about Getzendanner’s statements regarding other meetings.

Madigan attorney Todd Pugh cross-examined McDonald and questioned the manner in which the conference with Getzendanner was recorded.

In redirect testimony with Streicker, McDonald said the conference was summarized in the same manner as other such meetings.

Madigan and McClain are charged with 23 counts of bribery, racketeering and official misconduct in connection with a scheme that federal prosecutors referred to as "Madigan Enterprise."

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 them in Springfield. Four ComEd executives and lobbyists were convicted in 2023 in a related trial, and ComEd itself agreed to pay $200 million in fines as part of a deferred prosecution agreement with prosecutors.

Madigan also is accused of using his position of power to steer business to his private law firm.

Madigan served in the Illinois House from 1971 to 2021. He was speaker for all but two years between 1983 and 2021. Madigan also chaired the Democratic Party of Illinois from 1998 to 2021.

McClain was a longtime lobbyist who previously served as a state representative in Illinois’ 48th district from 1973 to 1982.

When the government rested its rebuttal case, Judge John Robert “Jack” Blakey advised jurors that they would not return until 9 a.m. next Wednesday, Jan. 22, for closing arguments, after which they would receive the case for deliberations.

After the jury departed, attorneys for both Madigan and McClain moved for acquittal on several counts of the indictment.

Bhachu objected.

A frame from undercover video captured July 18, 2017, featuring former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan presented to a jury during Madigan's corruption trial Monday, Nov. 25, 2024.

“The evidence was more than sufficient to establish the guilt of the defendants on all counts of the indictment,” Bhachu said.

Blakey denied the motions and the court went into recess soon after.

Former state Rep. Jeanne Ives, R-Wheaton, said the judicial process for Madigan has taken a long time.

“Well, certainly, for him to take four years to come to trial, that is maddening,” Ives told The Center Square.

Before Madigan attorney Dan Collins announced that Madigan’s team rested its case, another Madigan attorney, Lari Dierks, read two stipulations.

One of the agreed stipulations involved Solis’ bank statements from 2014 to 2017, and the other regarded a bank application by former Chicago precinct captain Ed Moody.

Before jurors took their seats Thursday, Blakey discussed potential stipulations regarding patronage, job recommendations and First Amendment concerns with attorneys. Madigan’s attorneys proposed a jury instruction on patronage Wednesday afternoon.

“Does patronage need any additional illumination?” Blakey asked.

The judge said that if there was a draft of a limiting instruction regarding patronage, “I need that today,” Blakey said.

The judge expressed concerns about including First Amendment issues with jury instructions, saying the issues could be litigated in a post-trial motion.

Blakey denied a renewed motion by McClain to be separated from Madigan’s case. McClain’s attorneys filed the motion based on the former speaker’s testimony.

“Neither the facts nor the law at issue support Mr. McClain’s motion for severance,” Streicker said.

Streicker cited previous cases and presented several examples of Madigan’s testimony that supported McClain’s defense.

Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Collins said the government has an experienced team.

“The government’s style in this is sort of what we’re taught in prosecution school 101. It’s ‘Just the facts, ma’am’ sort of routine,” Collins told The Center Square.

Collins said jurors would be expected to focus on the actual charges in the case.

“The key features of the indictment are this ComEd sequence, the AT&T sequence, the Chinatown land matter which didn’t come to fruition,” Collins said.

Blakey said he would review jury instructions and make final rulings on those instructions Tuesday.

Madigan and McClain are charged with 23 counts of bribery, racketeering and official misconduct.