Roundup: Madigan corruption trial
Thursday, Oct 31, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* WGN…
Michael Madigan’s legendary control of the Illinois House was a significant topic of discussion Wednesday in his ongoing corruption trial. […]
Wednesday, Oct. 30, was Day 2 of testimony from lobbyist Will Cousineau, who worked for the now-former Illinois Speaker of the House Madigan. Cousineau testified how the 82-year-old would secretly impose his will on legislation with the help of trusted lieutenants like McClain.
“The goal is to make as many people happy as possible,” Madigan said on a private conference call on Dec. 9, 2018, with top advisors, including Cousineau.
“Why did you continue to participate in these meetings?” Assistant US Attorney Julia Schwartz asked Cousineau on the witness stand. The Madigan staffer-turned-lobbyist was no longer on the Speaker’s payroll during the December 2018 strategy session.
“I worked for the Speaker for 18 years,” Cousineau replied. “I just wanted to keep helping.”
* Sun-Times…
The federal judge presiding over the corruption trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan agreed to toss a small — but potentially key — piece of testimony Wednesday that put Madigan’s co-defendant in the room with him during discussion of a 2016 ComEd bill.
It’s a limited victory for Michael McClain, the longtime ComEd lobbyist who was also known as Madigan’s messenger around the Illinois State Capitol. But it likely did little damage to the case brought by prosecutors, who seemed to then fend off another attack by defense attorneys later in the morning. […]
The evidence tossed by the judge was delivered by former longtime Madigan aide Will Cousineau, who returned to the witness stand Wednesday. He discussed his role in efforts to pass the Future Energy Jobs Act late in 2016. […]
The bill ultimately passed. But McClain attorney Patrick Cotter seized on Cousineau’s lack of recall, arguing in court that U.S. District Judge John Blakey should toss the testimony. Blakey wound up having Cousineau clarify his answers without jurors present.
* Tribune…
Toward the end of the day Wednesday, Cousineau’s testimony turned to his assistance on the state’s massive gambling overhaul, which had been attempted many times before but been tabled by the speaker. This time, Madigan had given a green light to talks and named Rita as sponsor of the bill — an indication that it had his backing.
Through a series of text messages and wiretapped calls, prosecutors portrayed for the jury how Cousineau and McClain played outsized roles in the shaping of the important legislation, even though neither of them worked for the speaker’s office in any official capacity.
Cousineau testified he participated in a May 2018 meeting with McClain, Rita, and others regarding the gaming bill at the now-shuttered Sangamo Club in Springfield.
In text message conversation later that month, McClain and Cousineau update each other on the bill’s status in committee and where Madigan stood.
“Bob (Rita)’s analysis after talking to some members is that games were being played on the vote,” McClain wrote to Cousineau. “We are moving forward on the hearings. … I have had no one whisper in my ear and so I think will just stay on the program.”
* Capitol News Illinois…
And before trial broke for the day, Cousineau began testifying about working together with McClain on gambling legislation in the spring of 2018 – more than a year after McClain had officially retired from lobbying. Asked what business McClain had negotiating gambling bills without being a registered lobbyist, Cousineau said he believed McClain was involved at Madigan’s request.
At Mapes’ trial last summer, state Rep. Bob Rita, D-Blue Island, testified that in 2013, Madigan told him that he’d be taking over as the caucus’ lead sponsor and negotiator on all gambling issues. As Rita was leaving the speaker’s office, he said McClain was standing on the other side of the door and Madigan told him, “He will guide you.”
Rita, who began testimony in the current trial late last week, did not return to the witness stand on Monday and his absence has not been explained since.
* More…
* Center Square | Longtime Madigan staffer spends second day on witness stand in corruption trial: Before the jury entered the courtroom Wednesday morning, Madigan defense attorney Todd Pugh complained to Blakey that prosecutors were getting outside of a narrow focus he felt they were supposed to have regarding discussions with certain witnesses. Pugh said that former Democratic Party of Illinois campaign staffer Alaina Hampton, who has not yet testified, had become a “Swiss Army knife” of a witness. Pugh argued that Hampton should not be allowed to testify about campaign contributions. Schwartz said she expected Hampton to testify next Monday.
* ABC Chicago | Defense attorneys argue jury being unfairly tainted: For nearly an hour, defense attorneys argued that the jury was being unfairly tainted, as the government tried to paint a picture of an all-powerful speaker, who could withhold campaign contributions to specific House members if they did not vote a certain way. This came as prosecutors tried to convince jurors that Madigan, through McClain, solicited bribes, along with no-work jobs and contracts from ComEd and others in exchange for favorable legislation.
- Carpe GM - Thursday, Oct 31, 24 @ 9:34 am:
I remember the days when Madigan, McClain and Cousineau were considered the capitol’s 3D chess masters while everyone else was just a rube. It all looks different now.
- lake county democrat - Thursday, Oct 31, 24 @ 9:47 am:
Whenever I see Madigan’s name, the first thing I think of the kids who didn’t get into U of I because of his favors dole-out. It may not have been criminal but it’s an example of the real damage he did to innocent people’s lives. All that corruption, all those out of work people who never had a fair chance at government jobs, all the increased taxes to pay for it, and so many just laughed it off, even respected “the master” and his “no phone” mob tactics.
- Friendly Bob Adams - Thursday, Oct 31, 24 @ 9:50 am:
The government seems to be taking a long time to explain what the house speaker’s job is. Yes, he can kill a bill or move it forward. The was elected by a majority of house members to do just that.
- Donnie Elgin - Thursday, Oct 31, 24 @ 9:51 am:
“he said McClain was standing on the other side of the door and Madigan told him, “He will guide you”
Besides seemingly being crooked; this testimony is just plain creepy. Perfect for Haloween
- Just Me 2 - Thursday, Oct 31, 24 @ 10:00 am:
I’m have mixed feelings about seeing so many of these Madigan people having their lives ruined. (Remember Shaw?)
On one hand I hate to see anyone in pain, and the impact on their families must be unfortunate. But on the other, they dished out misery and relished their superiority for so long.
- AlfondoGonz - Thursday, Oct 31, 24 @ 10:13 am:
“testified how the 82-year-old would secretly impose his will on legislation”
Innuendo like this isn’t indicative of a particularly strong case. It was no secret whatsoever that the Speaker was afforded power and eagerly wielded it.
- Excitable Boy - Thursday, Oct 31, 24 @ 10:57 am:
- (Remember Shaw?) -
You mean the guy that was a jerk to campaign staffers and to this day has a laundry list of paying clients for his lobbying biz?
Poor guy, some folks just have it awful.
- Jeremy Bentham - Thursday, Oct 31, 24 @ 11:10 am:
“The goal is to make as many people happy as possible,” Madigan said
That’s nonsense upon stilts.
- SEIU Retired - Thursday, Oct 31, 24 @ 11:23 am:
Shaw and the other staffers had no idea how much they were disliked by the 13th Ward volunteers that were dispatched to various campaigns these staffers were coordinating. I’ll use initials here, someone like KB was very disliked. She now has a consulting business but couldn’t get her husband (JG) elected as a Cook County judge.
- low level - Thursday, Oct 31, 24 @ 11:30 am:
Question: why was MJM mad at Zalewski? I’m reading the transcript and McClain mentions this but it doesn’t say why.
- Lincoln Lad - Thursday, Oct 31, 24 @ 11:36 am:
I picture MJM reading the comments here and longing for the days when he could dispatch a lieutenant to tell us how to think and what we should not say unless we wanted our careers taken off track.
McClain will want to know who the commenters are for his enemy list.
Truth or fiction?
- Joe Biden Playing Golf - Thursday, Oct 31, 24 @ 11:37 am:
This case seems weak to me. The Feds are doing ALOT of explaining. Much of this reads like the practice of politics without any smoking gun. Lots of trial left to go, but at this rate I predict a hung jury.
- low level - Thursday, Oct 31, 24 @ 11:57 am:
== Much of this reads like the practice of politics without any smoking gun==
Yes. Most of this is Poli Sci 101. Madigan set the agenda then asked his caucus to support those goals. Legislative leaders around the world do that. In return, his members kept reelecting him until he lost their confidence. That is the way it is supposed to work.
- Donnie Elgin - Thursday, Oct 31, 24 @ 12:07 pm:
=Much of this reads like the practice of politics without any smoking gun=
To political junkies who have become inured to corruption sure. But remember the jury was purposely selected to be uninitiated to the inner games of IL politics. IMO this testimony hits home against MJM.
- Moon - Thursday, Oct 31, 24 @ 12:08 pm:
During Tuesday’s trial the former chief attorney for ComEd testified.
He readily admitted that lobbyists, representatives and senators on numerous occasions referred various people for employment at ComEd and in some instances were hired. Has the Fed investigated these instances? I am sure some of these representatives and senators voted on ComEd’s bills.
Lets be honest, it is not unusual for someone to refer a friend, relative, etc. for employment.
- walker - Thursday, Oct 31, 24 @ 12:21 pm:
It’s early, but so far the Fed’s witnesses seem to have weakened, or at least diluted, their bribery case. It paints a distasteful picture of an unfair sketchy environment, more than any actual crime.
It’s going to be very interesting as they move from framing to the guts of the actions taken.
Again, it’s early.
- Rabid - Thursday, Oct 31, 24 @ 12:29 pm:
A peek at how sausage is made and ComEd’s secret ingredients
- Dotnonymous x - Thursday, Oct 31, 24 @ 12:47 pm:
This case is looking weaker by the day…I don’t believe they have this for that.
I’m waiting for the prosecution to claim Madigan (Secretly) controlled the phases of the Moon…too.
- Excitable Boy - Thursday, Oct 31, 24 @ 12:57 pm:
- Madigan set the agenda then asked his caucus to support those goals. -
That’s not in question. What is in question is whether he accepted bribes to set that agenda and round up support.