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Comed 4 trial coverage roundup
Friday, Mar 24, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Heh…
* Roundup…
* Crain’s | Former senior Madigan aide offers behind-the-scenes look at speaker’s operation: Cousineau testified he called Madigan and told him the bad news. Madigan was accompanied by ComEd lobbyist McClain as the call came in. “Essentially, after some back and forth, he asked me to go and work the bill,” Cousineau said. Asked by MacArthur whether lawmakers knew Cousineau was representing the speaker in asking for their vote, he said, “There was no ambiguity in terms of whether I wanted a yes or no vote. … They knew … I was working at his direction.” * Sun-Times | Elusive former top aide offers inside look at how Michael Madigan wielded power — and helped muster votes on bill pushed by ComEd: Jurors learned that Cousineau shared with McClain the names of lawmakers not expected to be present when FEJA headed for a vote. And they learned that Madigan dispatched Cousineau to rescue the bill after Cousineau realized it didn’t have enough votes to pass. * Capitol News Illinois | Former Madigan political director details push by speaker’s office for key ComEd bill: In the end, FEJA passed with 63 votes in the House – three more than the minimum threshold needed – and had a mix of Democrat and Republican support. After passage in the Senate, the bill went to Rauner, who signed it less than a week later. * Hannah Meisel | Utility’s indicted CEO considered Madigan when hiring, witness says: O’Neill’s “concern” over the optics of “a purely political hire” ended up being irrelevant, as Cousineau never accepted the job; O’Neill testified Wednesday that ComEd couldn’t match Cousineau’s salary expectations. Cousineau went on to become a contract lobbyist, and his firm listed ComEd as a client in 2018 and 2019, according to state records. * Bloomberg Law | Ex-Madigan Staffer Details ComEd Lobbyist’s Outsized Influence: Documents admitted into evidence showed that Frank Olivo, among those who the government claims ComEd has paid for little or no work, used to be a paid campaigner for Madigan—before ComEd entered into a consulting agreement. * Telephone conversation between Michael McClain and Michael Madigan | ComEd Exhibit 4-T: Michael McClain and Michael Madigan make dinner plans. * Conversation between Michael Madigan and Daniel Montgomery | ComEd Exhibit 29-T: Michael Madigan has a conversation with Daniel Montgomery, president of the Illinois Federation of Teachers. * Telephone conversation between Michael McClain, Michael Madigan, Justin Cox, Heather Wier-Vaught, Craig Willert, Will Cousineau, Jessica Basham | ComEd Exhibit 112-T: Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan discusses leadership assignments in a secretly-recorded meeting with members of his staff in December 2018.
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- regular democrat - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 11:53 am:
Maybe they can get his tape from election night to see how his precinct did for Quinn.
- Steve - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 11:53 am:
Sunday school teacher does mean a man of the Gospels. I’m feeling better already.
- low level - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 12:14 pm:
Hope the brothers are doing ok. I dont know who’s idea this was but I doubt it was Ed or his brother. Or Ray Nice for that matter.
- Amalia - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 12:15 pm:
so often friends who are not in politics wonder why I did not get ahead as far as some. they don’t want an answer, they know, they just think it stinks that this is the kind of thing that gets one someplace.
- Back to the Future - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 12:27 pm:
Only a week into the trail and it certainly is not looking good for the ComEd 4.
Congratulations to the FBI, USDA and other law enforcement people for their hard work and also a thank you for the cooperating witnesses for their honesty in testifying about these alleged crimes.
- Hannibal Lecter - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 12:29 pm:
=== I dont know who’s idea this was but I doubt it was Ed or his brother. ===
Please - don’t make them out to be innocent victims in all of this.
- Hannibal Lecter - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 12:32 pm:
=== Only a week into the trail and it certainly is not looking good for the ComEd 4.
Congratulations to the FBI, USDA and other law enforcement people for their hard work and also a thank you for the cooperating witnesses for their honesty in testifying about these alleged crimes. ===
I wouldn’t pat anyone on the back until the verdict comes in. Also, don’t treat the “cooperating witnesses” like noble servants that volunteered their time and energy for the public good. Most of them got non-target/immunity letters.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 12:37 pm:
===Most of them got non-target/immunity letters===
A non-target letter is no big deal. It’s the product of cautious attorneys who want it on the record that their clients are not being pursued in any way, shape or form.
An immunity letter, though, can be much different. It suggests they know of illegal activity and have to be honest about it on the stand. Mapes was given immunity, for instance.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 12:37 pm:
===Congratulations===
“Never mistake activity for achievement” - Coach Wooden.
Congratulations are for endings.
- custard - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 12:39 pm:
Back to the Future out here convicting people without the need for a jury. Pesky Sixth Amendment always seems to get in the way.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 12:40 pm:
That resume is like the example template you see for use of software…
My goodness.
- Anon - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 12:57 pm:
I thought only McClain’s phone was tapped. One of the tapes played this week is a call between Madigan and Dan Montgomery. Was one of Madigan’s phones tapped also?
- Back to the Future - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 1:06 pm:
Not convicting anyone.
I just think we are lucky to have such dedicated public servants looking out for us.
They worked on this for years and so far it looks like their hard work and dedication to pursuing justice in this case is going in a good direction for them.
- Hannibal Lecter - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 1:07 pm:
=== That resume is like the example template you see for use of software… ===
I was thinking the same thing. Microsoft Word resume template. LOL
- Jed - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 1:14 pm:
If the goal is embarrassment and exposing the unsavory side of politics, congratulations are earned. If it’s conviction, I have no idea. There definitely hasn’t been a “I’ve got this thing and it’s - golden” moment, but this wasn’t just taking a client to a baseball game either. Where’s that line and was it crossed? Very interested to see how this plays out.
- low level - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 2:05 pm:
==Please - don’t make them out to be innocent victims in all of this.==
Oh, Im not suggesting that. Im just wondering now who’s idea it was to make them subcontractors of Doherty.
- Been There - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 2:10 pm:
==== Behold, the resume that legendary 13th Ward precinct captain Ed Moody====
And ironically the whole reason the Moody brothers are legendary is left off the resume. Here is what it should say:
Edward Moody
Legendary 13th Ward Precinct Captain
You Have Been Told To Hire Me
- Payback - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 3:14 pm:
“…we are lucky to have such dedicated public servants looking out for us.” Did you grow up watching “The FBI” with Ephram Zimbalist, Jr? In other states, public corruption prosecutions would be carried out by the Attorney General. Here in Illinois, we have a weak AG by design. So we’re forced to wait around for thirty to forty year intervals for the feds to act. Until the state of Illinois gets serious about doing its own dirty laundry, we are still a disgrace when it comes to public corruption.
- 47th Ward - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 3:25 pm:
===Until the state of Illinois gets serious about doing its own dirty laundry, we are still a disgrace when it comes to public corruption.===
Do you really want the Attorney General and state court judges authorizing the state police to tap the phones of other politicians? Really?
The US Attorney has plenty of scalps on the wall. It has the tools to most effectively investigate and prosecute corruption. Why on earth would you want to let Illinois politicians investigate each other?
I understand the frustration with the slow, deliberate process they use, but I don’t think you’re giving the feds enough credit for the work they are doing. If you think they’re missing some things, feel free to act as a whistleblower. Until then, a simple thank-you would be appropriate.
- Back to the Future - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 3:50 pm:
@Payback,
Guess you got me- it actually was one of my favorite shows when I was growing up. It was a little corny, but be that as it may our local FBI agents and the USDA in real time have done a pretty good job historically in dealing with public corruption.
As to your point on the AG, the Constitution Convention Delegates did kick around different ideas on the AG’s powers and the current
concepts are what they came up with.
I agree with you that it could be better, but it is what it is.