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ComEd 4 trial coverage roundup
Tuesday, Apr 4, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Here you go…
* Crain’s | One conversation gets as close to the quid for the quo as ‘ComEd Four’ trial has gotten: With that summation, McClain in that call undermines much of what the defense has presented so far in terms of how Madigan helped ComEd in Springfield. Attorneys repeatedly have said Madigan’s staffers drove hard bargains in negotiations with ComEd and Exelon and didn’t give in to their initial requests. In one example, Madigan’s aides in 2016 talked Exelon down from a subsidy of $285 million annually for two nuclear plants that otherwise would close, to $235 million, according to evidence the defense presented. Over the 10 years of that subsidy — which ratepayers statewide still are paying in their electric bills — that translated into more than $2 billion. * Tribune | ‘We had to hire these guys‘: Jury in ‘ComEd Four’ trial hears recordings laying out role of Madigan’s confidant as go-between for utility: On another call from February 2019, McClain boasted to an Exelon executive he’d been doing “assignments” for Madigan for 25 years and “you’ve never read about me in a newspaper.” The recordings, which were played back-to-back for an hour without a witness on the stand, featured a who’s who of Madigan’s most trusted associates, including 13th Ward Ald. Marty Quinn, former state Rep. John Bradley, former top staffer-turned lobbyist Shaw Decremer, as well as the speaker’s son, Andrew. * Center Square | ‘ComEd Four’ video evidence shows effort ‘to keep Mike Madigan happy’: An undated recording has McClain talking with Madigan, who’s on trial for the alleged scheme next year, about various associates. “When you’re with Anne, you’re talking about Mike Zalewski,” Madigan said. “Mike Zalewski and Juan Ochoa, and Joe Dominguez,” McClain said. “Those are the three.” * Telephone conversation between Michael McClain and John Hooker and Anne Pramaggiore | ComEd Exhibit 136-T: PRAMAGGIORE: Well and they, and they gotta you know the other thing Michael is, you know this is, this is a different group that they have to deal with inside the company, and you have to have somebody who knows, that the, the Speaker trusts, and can sort through this stuff to make sure that the right information is flowing.
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- Lincoln Lad - Tuesday, Apr 4, 23 @ 9:42 am:
Strikes me as appropriate that the man MJM relied on the most (McClain) is the one whose carelessness in statements and emails are the crux of the case.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Apr 4, 23 @ 9:50 am:
McClain doing his best “villain’s monologue” isn’t going to do any favors for the “4”
It’s never your enemies that sink you, it’s your friends, and those you need.
- Back to the Future - Tuesday, Apr 4, 23 @ 10:06 am:
Day 13 of the Federal Justice folks civics lesson on the “lobbying” culture in Illinois.
Other “lobbying” disclosures involving ex State Rep Luis Arroyo (5 years), ex State Senator Link and others that were previously involved in “lobbying” are already on the books.
Hoping the FBI is still moving forward on other cases involving the adventures in Springfield “lobbying” drama as the weeks, months and years of cleaning up corruption moves along.
- low level - Tuesday, Apr 4, 23 @ 10:12 am:
== whose carelessness in statements and emails are the crux of the case.==
That part dumbfounds me considering how very cautious this group was as a general rule.
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Tuesday, Apr 4, 23 @ 10:40 am:
I really don’t understand how these guys did not take a plea deal. McClain says if Dominguez wanted to pass a bill, he needed to bribe Madigan in very colorful language at that.
- low level - Tuesday, Apr 4, 23 @ 10:53 am:
==I really don’t understand how these guys did not take a plea deal==.
Was literally thinking the exact same thing. Those that did make a deal were very wise even it was very difficult.
- ddp76 - Tuesday, Apr 4, 23 @ 10:56 am:
I found the statement in the recordings-paraphrasing but using the words- Let’s not make it a Federal case, extremely humorous.
- de Gaulle - Tuesday, Apr 4, 23 @ 1:12 pm:
=I really don’t understand how these guys did not take a plea deal.=
May not have been offered.
- Itsthelaw - Tuesday, Apr 4, 23 @ 1:51 pm:
At least two of the jurors snickered when McClain speculated that Dominguez might be wired.
- Watchful eye. - Tuesday, Apr 4, 23 @ 4:38 pm:
Madigan can’t go trial after seeing how well this is all going for rhe prosecution. And the truth is finally out. None of these Madigan operatives very smart and the myth of Madigan genius has officially been debunked. He wasn’t playing three dimensional checkers— he was playing corruption at the highest levels with no regard for anyone but his own interests. Pathetic. And we are all skiing for it
- Salt Life - Tuesday, Apr 4, 23 @ 7:37 pm:
I had no idea Mike McClain was so thick. Hard to fathom such sloppiness. Not looking good for the 4 and the no-so Velvet Hammer who should known better and realized his buddy was such a dolt.