ComEd Bribery Trial: Latest news updates

U.S. Supreme Court associate justices, from left, Ketanji Brown Jackson in 2022; Neil Gorsuch in 2021 and Brett Kavanaugh in 2022.

Supreme Court puzzles over corruption definition in bribery law at center of Madigan trial: 'Is it a sin?'

The case before the nation’s high court Monday was actually the corruption case against James Snyder, a former mayor of Portage, Indiana. The justices acknowledged their decision in the case will have implications for prosecutions across the country.

By Jon Seidel and Dave McKinney | WBEZ

Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan leaves the Dirksen Federal Courthouse early this year.

Chicago corruption trials

What is corruption? U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments that could impact bribery cases in Illinois

The high court is reviewing a law that’s popular among federal prosecutors — including those pursuing former Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan.

By Jon Seidel and Dave McKinney | WBEZ

Michael Madigan

'A gift to Madigan’s defense': Judge has harsh words for key witness who gave false answer on gun form

Credibility of Fidel Marquez, the former ComEd exec whom FBI agents persuaded to cooperate in the investigation of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, is now questionable, judge implies.

By Jon Seidel

Fidel Marquez, former ComEd senior vice president of governmental and external affairs.

ComEd bribery trial

Feds say crucial witness against Michael Madigan gave false answer while trying to buy gun

Fidel Marquez did not succeed in purchasing the firearm, and no criminal charges appear to have been filed against him. Prosecutors confirmed earlier this week that he is expected to testify at the trial of ex-House Speaker Michael Madigan.

By Jon Seidel

Clockwise from upper left: Michael McClain, Anne Pramaggiore, Jay Doherty, John Hooker

ComEd bribery trial

ComEd bribery sentencings postponed while Supreme Court reviews Indiana corruption case

Prosecutors have accused defense attorneys for the four people convicted of conspiring to bribe Michael Madigan of “claiming victory prematurely.” But one defense attorney predicted that “the convictions are not going to stand.”

By Jon Seidel

Former City Club President Jay Doherty walks into the Dirksen Federal Courthouse in March 2023.

Columnists

Don’t forget what human frailty is

An appeal for mercy for former City Club president Jay Doherty.

By Neil Steinberg

ComEd bribery trial

Judge’s health puts sentencing for ComEd bribery defendants in limbo

U.S. District Judge Harry Leinenweber has yet to decide whether those hearings should also be postponed until after the Supreme Court considers an Indiana corruption case.

By Jon Seidel

Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, speaks at a news conference at the Capitol in Springfield in 2017.

ComEd bribery trial

Sentencing delayed for ComEd bribery defendants; request to hold up Madigan corruption case also expected

A judge declined to put the ComEd bribery case fully on hold Monday despite a Supreme Court review of a key corruption law. But a similar request is expected to be made of Madigan’s judge.

By Jon Seidel

ComEd bribery trial

Supreme Court review of Indiana case could affect guilty verdicts in ComEd bribery trial, lawyers say

The dispute is over whether a federal bribery statute criminalizes only bribery, as opposed to also criminalizing so-called gratuities or rewards.

By Jon Seidel

Chicago corruption trials

‘Life’ at stake? Ominous prediction made as sentencing hearings loom in ComEd bribery case

It’s a sign of how serious all sides are taking the sentencing of Madigan confidant Michael McClain, former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore, ex-ComEd lobbyist John Hooker and onetime City Club President Jay Doherty.

By Jon Seidel

Chicago corruption trials

SEC hits ex-ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore with fraud charges for corrupt pursuit of ‘clout’

The Securities and Exchange Commission also filed charges against Exelon and ComEd, but their charges will be settled for $46.2 million.

By Jon Seidel

ComEd bribery trial

Two ComEd defendants are stripped of their ability to practice law in Illinois

Former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore contested the move to suspend her law license, but the state Supreme Court ruled against her.

By Dave McKinney | WBEZ Chicago

ComEd bribery trial

Federal judge dismisses Madigan-related bribery charge against ComEd

The dismissal means ComEd no longer faces criminal charges and avoids conviction, while others have faced prison time as a result of the investigation that targeted former state House Speaker Michael Madigan.

By Jon Seidel

ComEd bribery trial

Former ComEd CEO says her bribery conviction shouldn’t lead to sanctions against her law license

Anne Pramaggiore was found guilty of bribing former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. Now she’s fighting to keep her law license.

By Dave McKinney | WBEZ Chicago

Michael Madigan

Convicted ComEd CEO’s attorney warns ‘we may be trying this case again,’ but judge won’t allow contact with jurors

Defense attorney Scott Lassar told the Chicago Sun-Times he was referring to possible rulings by the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, or even the U.S. Supreme Court.

By Jon Seidel

ComEd bribery trial

ComEd parent Exelon is paying legal bills for two executives convicted of bribery

The company will not say how much it has paid to attorneys representing ex-CEO Anne Pramaggiore and VP John Hooker, but a rep says ratepayer funds are not used.

By Dave McKinney | WBEZ Chicago

Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan.

What ComEd trial guilty verdicts could mean for Michael Madigan and Illinois politics

By Dave McKinney | WBEZ Chicago

Michael Madigan

Michael McClain’s Illinois pension is suspended after ComEd bribery conviction

The suspension against McClain, a top confidant of former House Speaker Michael Madigan, may not hold since his crimes occurred years after his time in office.

By Dave McKinney | WBEZ Chicago

Chicago corruption trials

Jury convicts all four defendants in ComEd bribery trial — and fires a warning shot at Michael Madigan

Michael Madigan confidant Michael McClain, former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore, ex-ComEd lobbyist John Hooker and onetime City Club President Jay Doherty were all accused in the trial of a bribery conspiracy aimed at illegally swaying the powerful Democrat to benefit ComEd.

By Jon Seidel, Tina Sfondeles, and 1 more

Michael Madigan

ComEd jurors say they didn’t believe the jobs and money that went to Madigan allies were just legal lobbying

‘We felt this went beyond goodwill to “intent to influence,”’ said the jury foreperson, Sarah Goldenberg, a 34-year-old data analyst.

By David Struett, Tina Sfondeles, and 1 more

The ComEd Four (left to right): Former ComEd lobbyist John Hooker; former City Club President Jay Doherty; former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore; Michael McClain, longtime confidant to former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan.

ComEd bribery trial

ComEd verdicts jolt Illinois political world — sparking strong reactions from Republicans (and a few Democrats)

‘This guilty on all charges verdict has proven what Republicans have already known. We need real ethics reform,’ Illinois House Republican Leader Tony McCombie said at a news conference in Springfield after the verdict.

By Sun-Times staff

Michael Madigan

Federal jury begins deliberating ComEd bribery case after prosecutors call four defendants ‘grand masters of corruption’

After six weeks of trial, 12 jurors are considering the merits of the case that ended former House Speaker Michael Madigan’s record-breaking grip on power.

By Jon Seidel and Tina Sfondeles