* Lobbyist Nancy Kimme was briefly back on the witness stand to conclude her testimony…
* Tribune…
The jury in Michael Madigan’s corruption trial has heard many nicknames given to the powerful Democratic House Speaker, from the obvious, like “MJM” or “Mr. Speaker,” to the more esoteric such as “Himself” and “our Friend.” […]
[Sphinx] was the moniker applied to Madigan by some members of JB Pritzker’s team after Pritzker’s election in 2018, according to U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski, who was a top Pritzker aide before her election to Congress in 2022.
The nickname, a reference to the mythical figure of Egyptian pharaohs typically used to convey strength and ferocity, was used in an email shown during Budzinski’s testimony referencing a job recommendation from Madigan for Pritzker’s new administration.
“Attached is the most recent Sphinx list of recommendations ahead of your meeting today,” read the Dec. 4, 2018, email, which was sent from Budzinski to Pritzker and his soon-to-be chief of staff, Anne Caprara. “We have noted these in our process and they are coming thru our portal.”
* Sun-Times…
“We need to call him at least,” Budzinski told people in charge of personnel. “The Speaker raised with JB yesterday.”
Budzinski testified that she felt it important to be “responsive” to Madigan’s recommendations, but that it wasn’t necessary to “act” on them. And when asked if anyone was appointed based on a private payment or benefit to Madigan, she told a prosecutor “absolutely not.”
“Because that would be wrong and we have a process, we would never do that,” Budzinski said. […]
Testimony in the trial ended early Monday, after Budzinski left the stand, due to services for 7th Circuit Judge Joel Flaum, who died Wednesday. Prosecutors are nearing the end of their case against Madigan but told U.S. District Judge John Blakey they now expect to rest early next week.
* The Tribune’s Jason Meisner…
* Center Square…
On cross-examination, defense attorneys took Budzinski through the Sphinx list, pointing out cases where Madigan’s recommendations didn’t get the jobs he had requested. The Sphinx list generally had recommendations from Madigan and Pritzker. Budzinski also said she didn’t feel required to hire Madigan’s recommendations and wasn’t worried about backlash if she failed to hire one of Madigan’s picks.
She also said she only hired people who were qualified.
* Courthouse News reporter Dave Byrnes…
* More…
* State Week | Prosecutors move closer to wrapping up their case against Madigan: After weeks of testimony and recorded conversations, prosecutors have indicated they are inching toward resting in the case against former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and his longtime friend and advisor, Mike McClain. The court action has put a spotlight on how Madigan conducted business in the role he held for so long. We get an update on the case so far.
- low level - Monday, Dec 9, 24 @ 1:26 pm:
Its always seemed to me that Pritzker was able to keep distance from MJM while still working w him enough to get his various legislative priorities passed.
Just as he has with SDG, JB handled this situation adroitly. He is truly the one playing 3D chess while others play checkers.
- Drury's Missing Clock - Monday, Dec 9, 24 @ 1:29 pm:
Seems like the feds had the speaker under investigation for at least a couple of years and all they got was a recording of him telling a council member not to entrap him. Some obvious government waste for Elon to trim.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Dec 9, 24 @ 1:35 pm:
===all they got was a recording of him telling a council member not to entrap him===
Someone else who didn’t read the column.
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Monday, Dec 9, 24 @ 2:55 pm:
Per Wikipedia, “[i]n Greek tradition, the sphinx is a treacherous and merciless being with the head of a woman, the haunches of a lion, and the wings of a bird. According to Greek myth, she challenges those who encounter her to answer a riddle, and kills and eats them when they fail to solve the riddle.” Kind of an insightful nickname for Michael Madigan.
- Annonin' - Monday, Dec 9, 24 @ 3:01 pm:
The Twitter feed did offer much of a clue why the government needed to call a member of Congress. Perhaps that will be in the reporting. Wonder if they learned how many times Team JB asked MJM for help filling spots. Maybe it was trimmed.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Dec 9, 24 @ 3:02 pm:
===why the government needed to call a member of Congress===
Not sure anyone knows. In many ways, this case is like the Seinfeld finale.
- low level - Monday, Dec 9, 24 @ 3:20 pm:
==Wonder if they learned how many times Team JB asked MJM for help filling spots==
Zero times. They had no trouble filling spots. It was MJM asking JB for placements.
- Sue - Monday, Dec 9, 24 @ 3:32 pm:
Not to get ahead of things but assuming a conviction, post trial motions, sentencing hearing and certain appeal- Madigan will be perhaps 85 before he enters prison( assuming an incarceration sentence) - so don’t expect any kind of lengthy sentence for a first time offender who is in his 80’s
- TNR - Monday, Dec 9, 24 @ 4:09 pm:
== reference to the mythical figure of Egyptian pharaohs typically used to convey strength and ferocity ==
Not the context in which I hear the term used.
A Sphinx is a person is who doesn’t say or do much (“he sat there like a sphinx”) making it hard to determine what he or she wants or thinks. Poker faced, to mix metaphors.
- Just Me 2 - Monday, Dec 9, 24 @ 7:46 pm:
Who was supposed to pay the $7k/month?