* More in a bit…
…Adding… Sun-Times…
A federal judge agreed Monday to dismiss the federal bribery charge against ComEd that has loomed over the utility since 2020 for its role in a scheme that helped lead to the indictment of former Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan.
While significant, the dismissal of the criminal charge against ComEd is not surprising. Under the terms of a deferred prosecution agreement between prosecutors and the utility, the feds agreed to seek dismissal as long as ComEd held up its end of the three-year deal. […]
The dismissal means ComEd no longer faces criminal charges and will avoid conviction, while others have faced prison time as a result of the aggressive investigation that targeted Madigan. Though ComEd has admitted to the conduct at the heart of the feds’ probe, its lawyers have insisted on pleading not guilty in court. […]
Meanwhile, Madigan faces trial in April on a racketeering indictment that alleges he also participated in the illegal ComEd conduct. McClain is set to go to trial again alongside Madigan on additional charges. AT&T Illinois and its former president Paul La Schiazza, have also been charged as a result of the investigation.
*** UPDATE *** ComEd…
ComEd today issued the following statement on behalf of CEO Gil Quiniones after a federal judge dismissed the charge against the company, noting ComEd has fully complied with the deferred prosecution agreement (DPA):
“With the completion of the DPA and dismissal of the charge, ComEd remains committed, at all levels of the company, to the highest standards of integrity and ethical behavior for our business, and to continuing to build the trust of our customers. And, as the state transitions to a cleaner energy future, all of our more than 6,300 employees, who work hard to keep the lights on each day, remain focused on continuing to deliver highly reliable, resilient, and increasingly clean power to more than 9 million residents across northern Illinois.”
- OneOpinion - Monday, Jul 17, 23 @ 10:24 am:
ComEd got the enormous financial benefits of Smart Grid and FEJA … and what exactly have been the consequences for ComEd for its misconduct?
Insurance basically covered the $200 million monetary penalty for
the deferred prosecution agreement, and ComEd is asking ratepayers to pick up the tab for all resulting insurance premium costs.
According to the feds, “ComEd admitted it arranged jobs, vendor subcontracts, and monetary payments associated with those jobs and subcontracts, for various associates of a high-level elected official for the state of Illinois, to influence and reward the official’s efforts to assist ComEd with respect to legislation concerning ComEd and its business.”
As it has turned out, seems like ComEd made a good business decision. Kinda frustrating.
- New Day - Monday, Jul 17, 23 @ 10:38 am:
In their zeal to get Madigan, the government cut a sweetheart deal that not only let the company off with a slap on the wrist, but let Exelon off the hook entirely as well as various Exelon execs who were strangely absent from the trial.
- Michelle Flaherty - Monday, Jul 17, 23 @ 11:01 am:
So ComEd basically bribed its way out of a bribery charge?
- Moe Berg - Monday, Jul 17, 23 @ 11:01 am:
One reason the feds have such a high conviction rate is that they go after targets that have relatively limited resources to fight back.
If there was truly an interest in ending “the culture of corruption” they would go after the one entity that gained, by a vast amount compared to the people they did go after, the most from it: Exelon/ComEd.
But, no. In Exelon/ComEd they would have had an opponent with the resources to truly fight back. They gave them a pass and let them pay what amounted to chump change.
And then, the “corruption busting” US Attorney left the government for a nice, lucrative position at a white shoe law firm that makes big bank from companies like Exelon/ComEd.
A US Attorney who actually held corporations accountable, instead of issuing crowing press releases pretending to, probably wouldn’t have such bright employment prospects at such firms.
As far as revolving doors go, government employee/office holder-to-lobbyist ain’t the only one.
- Donnie Elgin - Monday, Jul 17, 23 @ 11:17 am:
“A federal judge agreed Monday to dismiss the federal bribery charge against ComEd”
A great welcome home to ComEds CEO as he returns from a 4 day UK trade trip with JB.
- West Side the Best Side - Monday, Jul 17, 23 @ 11:31 am:
So how long before the cost of the fine shows up on our ComEd bills?
- JB13 - Monday, Jul 17, 23 @ 12:02 pm:
Agreed that ComEd got off really easy here.
But if you walk away from this believing that ComEd was the real villain here, you are a part of the problem in Illinois
- New Day - Monday, Jul 17, 23 @ 1:37 pm:
They are not “the real villain” but they are absolutely a primary contributor to the corrupt environment. And no, that doesn’t make me “part of the problem.” It makes me someone who has watched them work for decades. It doesn’t get much worse in the Capitol.
- Moe Berg - Monday, Jul 17, 23 @ 1:54 pm:
=== But if you walk away from this believing that ComEd was the real villain here, you are a part of the problem in Illinois ===
If you walk away believing that there aren’t multiple villains here, and by inference that poor liddl, just-trying-to-make-an-honest-buck and never meanin’ no harm, ComEd isn’t among them, then maybe you should consider you might be part of the problem, too.
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Monday, Jul 17, 23 @ 2:10 pm:
===One reason the feds have such a high conviction rate is that they go after targets that have relatively limited resources to fight back.===
Lol, the ComEd four trial featured some of the best criminal defense attorneys in Chicago. Madigan has lots of resources and excellent attorneys too. You can’t put a company in prison.
- City Guy - Monday, Jul 17, 23 @ 2:10 pm:
I agree with the others that ComEd got off easy and is a big part of the problem in Illinois. And for the Feds, if Com Ed was playing this game with the State of Illinois. You may want to ask where else they are part of corruption. I really doubt this was one off behavior.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Jul 17, 23 @ 4:45 pm:
===So ComEd basically bribed its way out of a bribery charge?===
Why I first look for - Michelle Flaherty -before trying to comment…
That’s really quality work here.
True… and think on this… I know I was one who was confused (best word I can use I suppose?) by the plea and how it went down, but it looks like ComEd’s legal might’ve got the best part of this, and if ComEd gets more help in the next year…