Question of the day
Friday, Feb 17, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller * I’m told this is basically to give the feds an option to have someone officially confirm the authenticity of documents…
In case you can’t see it, the subpoena is here. * I reached out for a statement last night and this came today from Speaker Welch’s spokesperson…
* The Question: How closely will you be following the upcoming ComEd 4 trial? Explain.
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- Red Ketcher - Friday, Feb 17, 23 @ 11:09 am:
Close enough for a Tailgating ticket
- RNUG - Friday, Feb 17, 23 @ 11:16 am:
Not that closely. Might change if they get some real bombshell moments
- Kendall County Whig - Friday, Feb 17, 23 @ 11:20 am:
very closely because four guilty verdicts would increase likelihood of Mike Madigan being convicted.
- Last Bull Moose - Friday, Feb 17, 23 @ 11:23 am:
Do not expect to follow closely. Will probably note rulings on what evidence is admitted.
A lot of other stuff is happening. Final judgement is of interest, the path there less so.
- flea - Friday, Feb 17, 23 @ 11:32 am:
My source will be this blog, respectfully.
- Cook Street - Friday, Feb 17, 23 @ 11:38 am:
Sun-Times and Capitolfax every day.
- ddp76 - Friday, Feb 17, 23 @ 11:43 am:
I’d like to go and watch, but that would be too labor intensive and too much of a time commitment. So Jason Meisner will be my go-to.
- regular democrat - Friday, Feb 17, 23 @ 11:51 am:
I plan on following the trial. I believe there will be things uncovered that will shock even a seasoned Illinois political reporter/observer like yourself. I look forward to your commentary on this trial.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Feb 17, 23 @ 11:58 am:
I’ll be following the trial, I’ll be reading great reporters too during the trial. I’ll be checking what Rich has with the deeper context.
Lobbying will likely be on trial too.
Closely aligned lobbyists and how gray things can get before criminality, and “never write it down, never use the phone” lessons will be taught, yet again.
It’s *really* a story about friendship, “unknowing betrayal”, excessive leverage of others, and being blind to things around you… as the world and the old ways die.
As far as a “story” goes, that’s the story I want to follow.
- 47th Ward - Friday, Feb 17, 23 @ 12:21 pm:
I’ll be following this as much as you cover, which I expect will be plenty. Looking forward to it.
- Rudy’s teeth - Friday, Feb 17, 23 @ 12:23 pm:
Political theater in Illinois on stage at the Dirksen Federal Building. Another act in a long-running saga that features the characters in and around Illinois politics.
Won’t be the first trial of Illinois pols and those connected to the political arena. Unfortunately, it won’t be the last trial as “where’s mine” is deeply ingrained in this collection of individuals who represent their own interests first and foremost.
- low level - Friday, Feb 17, 23 @ 12:28 pm:
I’ll be following closely here.
==“never write it down, never use the phone” lessons will be taught, yet again.==. McClain sure violated that didnt he? Dude put everything in writing like he was writing memoirs. Nice going, Mike.
- Cheswick - Friday, Feb 17, 23 @ 12:38 pm:
I’ll be following along on Twitter and the ‘fax blog.
- Dotnonymous - Friday, Feb 17, 23 @ 12:38 pm:
Who stops reading a book just before the final chapter?
- Fitzy - Friday, Feb 17, 23 @ 12:45 pm:
One specific thing I’ll be watching for is if the government succeeds in making the case that McClain spoke for Madigan because that will be the key in proving their case against Madigan next year.
- Occasional Quipper - Friday, Feb 17, 23 @ 12:46 pm:
I will not follow it at all. I’m expecting lots and lots of delays that lawyers are so good at, so it could take years before it gets interesting. I’ll wait for the made-for-TV/Netflix movie after it’s all done.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Feb 17, 23 @ 12:58 pm:
===made-for-TV/Netflix movie===
Need a salacious hook that might be discovered in the trial?
The Ray Long book is a strong primer, just saying.
- low level - Friday, Feb 17, 23 @ 1:40 pm:
Anyone that thinks that this sort of thing is confined Illinois just doesn’t know what they’re talking about. This happens around the country and in both parties
- DownStateGrl - Friday, Feb 17, 23 @ 1:49 pm:
Who is the custodian? House Clerk?
- Back to the Future - Friday, Feb 17, 23 @ 1:57 pm:
Very closely.
Thinking this case in Federal Court will be the best and most complete disclosure of how State Government catered to insiders and special interest groups in my lifetime.
I expect that it will be easy to follow as our news outlets will cover the events wall to wall every day.
Hopefully some of our really impressive young reporters will get a shot at covering the case. In some ways this kind of alleged criminal behavior could not have happen if the news establishment had put in the kind of effort these younger reporters like the interns at the BGA or the new faces we hear from at WBEZ have demonstrated.
Hoping Isabel Miller will follow the story for us. She has been pretty impressive at Cap Fax.