ComEd bribery trial: Prosecutors hammer at ‘stunning’ stream of benefits delivered to Madigan
A defense attorney for a longtime friend of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan called on a federal jury Monday to “be the shield" between a private citizen and a “very powerful government committed, dedicated and on a mission to get Mike Madigan."
ComEd bribery case goes into the hands of jurors next week
Jurors will have a mountain of evidence to sort through once they begin to deliberate.
Former ComEd CEO testifies secretly recorded call in bribery case actually 'proves my innocence'
Former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore held her ground while being cross-examined by a federal prosecutor in her corruption trial Tuesday, insisting that a secretly recorded call central to the feds’ case against her “proves my innocence.”
Despite secret FBI recordings, ex-ComEd CEO tells jurors she didn’t view Madigan as an ally of utility
Federal jurors have spent five weeks listening to the voice of former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore, caught in a cache of secret FBI recordings in which prosecutors say she conspired with her colleagues to bribe then-Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan.
ComEd bribery trial: Prosecution rests as defense says former CEO Anne Pramaggiore will testify
Federal prosecutors rested their case in the ComEd bribery trial Wednesday, winding up after 17 days by playing more secretly recorded phone calls allegedly showing former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan securing consulting jobs at the utility for associates in exchange for help moving legislation.
Longtime precinct captain says he was paid by ComEd to do political work for Madigan
One of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s former top precinct captains testified Tuesday that he believed hundreds of thousands of dollars funneled to him from ComEd were meant to keep him knocking on doors for the powerful Southwest Side Democrat.
ComEd bribery trial witness pays price on stand as defense grills him over his decision, his personal life
The intense and embarrassing scene came on the fourth day of Marquez’s testimony in the trial of four former political power players who are accused of trying to bribe former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan to benefit ComEd.
Defense finally gets crack at feds’ key witness in ComEd bribery trial
Michael McClain laughed inside Saputo’s restaurant in Springfield as he shared with then-ComEd executive Fidel Marquez his story about his 2016 retirement, and how he handed his list of duties over to Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan.
'How else can we help you?' Jurors hear and see Madigan's vast patronage system inside ComEd
A close confidant of Michael J. Madigan sat down with a new ComEd CEO in March 2019 and explained how the then-powerful Illinois House speaker had long viewed the massive utility as an “old-fashioned patronage system.”
ComEd CEO 'wanted to make sure that we did everything possible' to earn Madigan's favor, witness testifies
The government’s star witness took the stand at the ComEd bribery trial on Monday as prosecutors presented FBI recordings and internal ComEd documents showing the money went to people who allegedly did no work for the utility company.
'The speaker gets to do what he wants to do,' Michael Madigan is heard saying on secret recording
A close, longtime staffer for former Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan took the stand in the ComEd bribery trial Thursday, testifying under immunity about secretly recorded 2018 discussions about House leadership in which a longtime Madigan confidant participated.
Defense tries to flip the script in ComEd bribery trial
The four are accused of trying to bribe Madigan when he was Illinois’ powerful House speaker by arranging for jobs, contracts and money for Madigan’s allies in a bid to benefit ComEd.
ComEd was pressured to hire politically connected law firm as it fought for key Illinois bill: testimony
ComEd’s former general counsel explained to jurors the pressure he felt in 2011, and again in 2016, to sign and renew the contract for the Reyes Kurson law firm. He said it largely came from lobbyist Michael McClain, who often seemed to be doing the bidding of then-Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan.
Veteran Illinois lawmaker tells ComEd bribery trial jurors that Madigan ruled 'through fear and intimidation'
Madigan resigned from the legislature in 2021 and faces a separate racketeering indictment. His trial is set for April 2024.
FBI recordings will be played at ComEd trial, but defense claims jurors will hear no hard evidence of bribery
Federal prosecutors told jurors Wednesday they will hear more than 100 recordings over the next several weeks in the wide-ranging trial of four former political power players accused of trying to bribe then-Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan.