* J. Robert Gough at Muddy River News…
The attorney for Michael McClain said he and his client were “pleased and relieved” after Wednesday’s decision by a federal jury not to convict the longtime statehouse lobbyist from Quincy.
Former Illinois Speaker of the House Michael Madigan was convicted Wednesday on public corruption charges after a federal jury found him guilty on 10 of 23 counts. However, McClain walked free after the jury deadlocked on any charges against him. Prosecutors had alleged the two men, close friends since their days in the state legislature in the 1970’s, ran a “criminal enterprise” to tighten Madigan’s stranglehold of power in the state capitol.
Muddy River News reached out last week to McClain for an interview. He referred us to his attorney, Patrick Cotter, who gave the defense team’s reaction to the trial’s outcome.
According to media reports and interviews with jurors, the jury panel reached a point where they had an 11-1 vote to acquit Madigan and McClain on the racketeering charge and the counts involving the transfer of a state-owned parcel of land in Chinatown. The jury tally on the AT&T-related charges was reportedly 10-2 in favor of acquittal.
As far as Madigan’s testimony where he attempted to distance himself from McClain, Cotter called the former speaker’s remarks “very odd” but said they had anticipated that strategy. It’s also why they had twice requested to have a separate trial from the Madigan defense.
“We were disappointed but not surprised,” Cotter said. “The jury saw through the speaker trying to deny their relationship. They were friends, and (McClain) was (Madigan’s) lobbyist. (Former ComEd vice president) Fidel Marquez testified that Mike’s job was to lobby the speaker.”
- Just Me 2 - Wednesday, Feb 19, 25 @ 10:12 am:
Interesting that Cotter admits it was a trial strategy only, and not the truth.
- low level - Wednesday, Feb 19, 25 @ 10:32 am:
Odd and just not a good look from Madigan. I really wish he hadnt said anything. Whatever faults McClain had, he didnt deserve this treatment from MJM.
- Payback - Wednesday, Feb 19, 25 @ 10:42 am:
I would agree with Cotter on this. McClain was lobbying. Morris Pasqual’s crew threw a lot of charges at McClain. The lack of convictions and hung jury for McClain leaves them with egg on their face and makes the Northern District look weak, which they are.
- Rabid - Wednesday, Feb 19, 25 @ 11:39 am:
If the jury saw through it, why no racketeering
- Frumpy White Guy - Wednesday, Feb 19, 25 @ 12:15 pm:
The government tapes proved that Madigan desperately longed for McClain’s dinner companionship.
- Reality Bites - Wednesday, Feb 19, 25 @ 1:05 pm:
The man chose to stay in the GA bubble for 50 years. A very weird place to stay for a half a century.
He appeared to have few outside interests and most certainly didn’t always put his own children’s interests above his own.
Maybe this odd duck didn’t have many real friends. The whole thing on the personal front is kind of sad.
- Colin O'Scopy - Wednesday, Feb 19, 25 @ 4:03 pm:
I think it is important to note that Mike McClain’s emails and tapped phone lines resulted in a good deal of Mr. Madigan’s legal problems.
It’s one thing to be “standing at the bridge with a musket” and another to perpetuate the idea that McClain and Madigan were of one mind, which McClain was always of mind to do. But, as the saying goes, perception is reality.