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

Michael Madigan

Former Ald. Danny Solis set to testify as feds outline Michael Madigan's corruption trial

Madigan is accused of leading a criminal enterprise for nearly a decade designed to enhance his political power and generate income for his allies and associates. The Southwest Side Democrat left office in 2021 and was indicted in March 2022.

By Jon Seidel

USA vs. Timothy Mapes

Jury of 6 men, 6 women selected as perjury trial gets underway for ex-top aide to Madigan

Assistant U.S. Attorney Julia Schwartz has signaled one witness will likely be former state Rep. Greg Harris, who was secretly recorded by the FBI speaking with a longtime Madigan ally about becoming majority leader.

By Jon Seidel

Tim Mapes chief of staff Illinois Speaker Michael Madigan

USA vs. Timothy Mapes

Michael Madigan’s ex-chief of staff once seemed to know everything, except on the witness stand — now, he’s headed to trial for perjury

Tim Mapes goes on trial Monday on charges of perjury and attempted obstruction of justice for his alleged bid to block the criminal investigation of the former House speaker and of Springfield insider Michael McClain.

By Jon Seidel

Timothy Mapes Tim Mapes Illinois politician chief of staff

USA vs. Timothy Mapes

Madigan’s ex-chief of staff wants judge to block feds from playing roughly 100 recordings at perjury trial

Defense attorneys also revealed the FBI tried to convince Tim Mapes to work as a “confidential witness” during a meeting in Springfield in February 2019. Mapes “politely declined.”

By Jon Seidel

Former state Rep. Luis Arroyo walks out of the Dirksen Federal Courthouse in February 2020.

Chicago corruption trials

Pension stripped from former state lawmaker who called bribes he passed to another pol ‘the jackpot’

The state General Assembly Retirement System board voted to strip former state Rep. Luis Arroyo of his more than $4,500-a-month state pension, citing state law that allows retirement benefits to be taken from ex-lawmakers if they commit felonies arising from their time in office.

By Dave McKinney | WBEZ Chicago

USA vs. James Weiss

Businessman James T. Weiss guilty of bribing 2 state lawmakers, lying to the FBI

The verdict is the second in less than two months to address separate bribery schemes inside the Illinois Capitol. Weiss is a son-in-law of former Cook County Assessor Joseph Berrios.

By Jon Seidel

Former Gov. Bruce Rauner, now a Florida resident, unveils his official portrait before it is hung on the wall of the Illinois State Capitol on Monday. Above Rauner is the portrait of his predecessor, Democrat Pat Quinn, and at right is his former Lt. Gov. Evelyn Sanguinetti.

Springfield

Rauner’s return: Former Republican governor visits state Capitol to unveil official portrait — but won’t talk politics

Former Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner deflected reporters’ questions about Democrats’ continued placement of blame on him or a two-year budget impasse when he was governor. He also didn’t mention his now-indicted nemesis, former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan.

By Jerry Nowicki | Capitol News Illinois

Timothy Mapes, former chief of staff for ex-Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, listens to lawmakers debate at the Capitol in Springfield, Ill.

USA vs. Timothy Mapes

Judge says he won’t toss portions of perjury indictment against Madigan’s ex-chief of staff

The ruling from U.S. District Judge John Kness keeps the trial of Timothy Mapes on track for Aug. 7.

By Jon Seidel

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

Michael Madigan confidant Michael McClain (left) leaves the Dirksen Federal Courthouse after being found guilty on Tuesday, May 2, 2023.

Chicago corruption trials

Judge sets sentencing dates for ComEd conspirators

Sentencing hearings for the former ComEd executives and contractors are scheduled for three months before the trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan.

By Andy Grimm

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

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

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

Michael Madigan

In closing arguments, feds hammer at ‘stunning’ stream of benefits to Madigan while defense calls bribery charges ‘collateral damage’

Four former political power players are accused of arranging for jobs, contracts and money for Madigan allies in an illegal bid to sway Madigan on legislation crucial to ComEd. Their trial is in its seventh week, and jurors could begin deliberating Tuesday.

By Jon Seidel and Tina Sfondeles

Michael Madigan

ComEd bribery case — which shook Illinois politics to the core — goes into the hands of jurors next week

The jury will have a mountain of evidence to sort through. Jurors heard from about 50 witnesses over five weeks, saw piles of emails and heard a cache of secret FBI recordings that form the backbone of the feds’ case.

By Jon Seidel

Michael Madigan

Former ComEd CEO testifies that secretly recorded call central to bribery case against her actually ‘proves my innocence’

Anne Pramaggiore went toe-to-toe with Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Streicker, who questioned Pramaggiore for around two and a half hours and challenged the assertions Pramaggiore made Monday on the witness stand.

By Jon Seidel and Tina Sfondeles

ComEd bribery trial

On witness stand, former ComEd CEO denies knowing contractors were tied to Madigan: ‘I didn’t know who they were’

Anne Pramaggiore testifies in her defense that she was unaware that the contractors hired by the utility through Jay Doherty’s company had connections to the ex- speaker.

By Jon Seidel and Tina Sfondeles

Michael Madigan

Despite cache of secret FBI recordings, ex-ComEd CEO tells jurors in bribery trial she didn’t view Madigan as an ally of utility

Anne Pramaggiore will face more questions when the ComEd bribery trial resumes Monday, when she will surely face vigorous cross-examination by prosecutors in the high-stakes case.

By Jon Seidel

Crime

‘King Rudy’ Acosta pleads guilty in deal with prosecutors— a day after his father is sentenced to probation

Rudy Acosta Jr. cooperated with the government against corrupt Chicago politicians. His son, Rudy Acosta III, worked with the feds targeting drug traffickers.

By Andy Grimm

Former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore walks into the Dirksen Federal Courthouse.

Michael Madigan

Prosecution rests in ComEd bribery trial as defense says former CEO Anne Pramaggiore will testify

Prosecutors called three dozen witnesses over four weeks as they sought to prove four former political players conspired to bribe Madigan by arranging for jobs, contracts and money for his allies.

By Andy Grimm and Dave McKinney | WBEZ Chicago

Chicago corruption trials

Longtime precinct captain says he was paid hundreds of thousands of dollars by ComEd to do political work for Michael Madigan

‘Understand this, that I control that contract,’ Edward Moody says he was told by Madigan. ‘If you stop doing your political work, you’ll lose that contract.’

By Jon Seidel and Tina Sfondeles

ComEd bribery trial

‘I will keep pressing’: Jurors hear ComEd CEO taking orders after key witness explains appointment to utility’s board

The testimony capped the fourth week in the ComEd bribery trial. Prosecutors have presented nearly all of their evidence and predict they will rest their case by Tuesday.

By Jon Seidel and Tina Sfondeles

ComEd bribery trial

Jurors in ComEd bribery trial won’t hear Madigan’s ‘bandits’ quip, judge rules

The ex-speaker’s comment that ‘Some of these guys made out like bandits’ did not refer to the $1.3 million involved in the current trial, defense argued. A judge agreed.

By Jon Seidel and Tina Sfondeles

Michael McClain, a longtime confidant to former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, walks into the Dirksen Federal Courthouse, Wednesday, March 15, 2023. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Chicago corruption trials

FBI raids uncovered no evidence that Madigan allies did any work for ComEd salaries

In 2019, agents searched homes of allies of ex-Speaker Michael Madigan, seizing documents and finding none showing any work was done in exchange for payment.

By Jon Seidel

Michael McClain, a longtime confidant to former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, left and Former ComEd lobbyist John Hooker.

Crime

Ex-ComEd lobbyist suspected new CEO Dominguez would be ‘wired’

Prosecutors present recordings showing Madigan confidant Michael McClain didn’t trust incoming utility boss Joseph Dominguez, a former federal prosecutor.

By Jon Seidel and Tina Sfondeles

Michael Madigan

ComEd defense attorneys grill former VP on decision to become federal witness

In a trial exploring the difference between political favors and criminal conduct, Fidel Marquez was asked whether his deal to become a fed informant was a bribe.

By Jon Seidel and Tina Sfondeles

Chicago corruption trials

Defense finally gets crack at feds’ key witness in ComEd bribery trial, says he was ‘scared’ when FBI agents came to his door

Former ComEd exec had been questioned over three days by federal prosecutors as they detailed the many ways the company allegedly tried to bribe former House Speaker Michael Madigan to benefit ComEd.

By Jon Seidel and Tina Sfondeles