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Feds have Madigan on tape

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Illinois

* I already went through this story with subscribers today, so I’ll just let that stand and hit some of the high points here. But make sure you read the whole thing…

The FBI secretly recorded Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan trying to get business for his private law firm from a developer brought to him by Ald. Danny Solis, who was weighing the developer’s request to build a hotel in Chinatown, according to a federal court affidavit obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times. […]

The associate of the Chinese developer told the FBI in May 2014 about efforts to seek a zoning change for the proposed hotel, which would have been built in Chinatown in Solis’ 25th Ward. The developer was trying to secure a “letter of support” for the project from Solis, who initially said he would support the zoning change on two conditions, according to the affidavit. […]

Then, in August, [after the other two conditions were met] Solis reached out to the associate and asked him and the developer to attend the meeting with Madigan. The associate explained that he would need to translate for the developer, who did not speak English. […]

After confirming that his firm was under consideration, Madigan said, “we’re not interested in a quick killing here. We’re interested in a long-term relationship.” […]

Despite that conversation, neither the businessman nor his associate had signed a retention agreement with Madigan’s firm by the time the FBI agent wrote the 2016 affidavit. The land got zoning approval from the City Council, but the hotel was never built.

* Meanwhile…

Retiring Ald. Danny Solis (25th) received sex acts, Viagra, free weekend use of an Indiana farm once owned by Oprah Winfrey and a steady stream of campaign contributions in exchange for shepherding official City Council actions, according to allegations in a federal court affidavit obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times.

The allegations are contained in an explosive search warrant application that helps explain why Solis, the powerful chairman of the City Council’s Zoning Committee, agreed to spend more than two years cooperating in a federal investigation during which he is known to have secretly recorded at least a dozen conversations with Ald. Edward M. Burke (14th), the former chairman of the City Council’s Finance Committee.

Although no charges have been filed publicly against Solis, the 2016 affidavit lays out in detail a federal corruption case against the veteran alderman, who was one of the closest City Council allies of Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Emanuel’s predecessor, Richard M. Daley. […]

The 120-page affidavit shows federal investigators listened in on more than 18,000 conversations on one of Solis’ cellphones over the course of at least a year, while also conducting surveillance of his private meetings and trips to massage parlors.

* Related…

* Hero or zero? Solis hopes history treats him kindly for helping feds in probe

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 9:03 am

Comments

There’s nothing to see here. Just one stop along the way to doing business on the up and up. Clean and pure as the wind driven snow.

Comment by Ill Annoyed Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 9:04 am
Is this how the Republican party makes a comeback in Illinois? Who will be the first Democrat or Republican to ask Speaker Madigan to step down? Or will no one ask Mike Madigan to step down?

Comment by steve Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 9:05 am
I’m thinking two key elements will be…

If hiring Madigan’s firm is a required way for the project to happen, otherwise no project.

If not hiring Madigan’s firm means a brick is on the project and then they all squeeze the victim.

I’ll be far more interested in the prelude and aftermath of any meeting(s) and then…

The question to ethics, the question(s) will play into legality.

I have no idea what is said, how it’s portrayed, but most importantly how it is interwoven to Solis’ help with the Feds.

Being on tape, it being leaked there is a tape, as part of an investigation with a corroborating wired informant… it’s now a waiting game.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 9:11 am
Doesn’t seem like much on Madigan.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 9:13 am
It’s impossible to know, but it would be interesting to see how different the reactions to Solis would be if he just outed the bad actors because it was the right thing to do, as opposed to the reality where he got caught and rolled over to try to save himself.

Comment by Anon324 Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 9:13 am
Remember it is the Republican Party that is in serious trouble in Illinois and on the verge of extinction.

Comment by Lucky Pierre Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 9:18 am
I love the suntimes article where Solis hopes history will remember him as a hero. Maybe if he makes a vision board or meets a magical genie, it will come true.

Comment by sab Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 9:19 am
Part of the Burke warrant was looking for documents related to referral fee agreements. I wonder if Solis, or any other Aldermen for that matter, ever were compensated for steering property tax appeal business to Burke or Madigan.

Comment by TopHatMonocle Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 9:20 am
So Madigan wanted this guy’s business, didn’t get the business, the guy’s building got approved anyway. Is there more to the story? Tune in tomorrow folks.

Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 9:21 am
If this is the best they have on MJM then this isn’t much. If there’s more to come… we’ll see. But in my experience, due to litany of Federal investigations that have historically plagued all levels of IL government - the Speaker’s Office assumes phones are tapped and rooms are bugged. Not in a constant state of paranoia, but more in a - “don’t say or send anything you wouldn’t want to have read back to you from a newspaper someday. Always assume someone other than your intended target is listening or reading.” So I would be surprised if they got him saying anything more concrete than this.

Comment by BothSidesofHisMouth Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 9:22 am
===on the verge of extinction.===

Ugh…

Rich Miller…

===Bottom line: The Republican Party in this state is in very dire straits.===

Your hyperventilating is noted.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 9:22 am
Just a politician using his status as an important politician to extract personal financial gain in order for people to do business in the city of Chicago. Nothing to see here.

Comment by Chicagonk Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 9:22 am
It isn’t too difficult to slide from solis to sleaze.

History will not be kind.

Comment by Huh? Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 9:23 am
==Remember it is the Republican Party that is in serious trouble in Illinois==

That’s true.

There’s not really enough here- yet, yet- for Madigan to be in real legal trouble. Of course, we don’t know where this goes yet, or if this is even all the feds have. But legally, we’re not there. Yet.

Politically, any time the story is “X was caught on FBI wiretaps” it’s a bad day for X, even if all they were saying was their chilli recipe. You can overcome that bad day; we all just got an object lesson in that. But it’s bad. This is another step in the gradual weakening of Madigan relative to other Democratic players.

That being said, 21 months before the next General Election, there’s a lot of time for recovery.

Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 9:27 am
Who of the Chicago Mayoral candidates will ask for Mike Madigan to step down as 13th Ward Committeeman until the cloud can be removed ? Will Toni Preckwinkle demand it?

Comment by steve Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 9:28 am
“Despite that conversation, neither the businessman nor his associate had signed a retention agreement with Madigan’s firm”

Not much here, at this point.

Republicans’ problems in Illinois are much deeper than Madigan. If not, they would have won running against him. Keep being the party that protects the rich at all costs and wants to cut government workers, backs Trump, says no to a progressive social agenda, etc., and thinking Madigan is the problem.

Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 9:28 am
I suspect the Madigan tapes will later be marketed as a sleep aid.

One thing, however, this is going to turn some folks paranoia up to 11.

Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 9:28 am
Chicagonk— “In order for people to do business in the city of Chicago”.

The hotel got approved, Madigan’s firm did not get hired.

Just saying, there’s a bright line between questionable ethics and extortion. Madigan has made a career by not crossing it (yet, that we know of).

Comment by Graybeard Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 9:30 am
The recent and ongoing Madigan PR tour is starting to make sense.

Comment by Birdseed Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 9:30 am
- Grandson of Man -

Just ask Blago why he’s in jail. Just because money didn’t change hands doesn’t mean you will not get indicted…..

Comment by steve Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 9:31 am
- steve -

What laws, from what little we know, have been broken?

“Watch what does happen”

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 9:33 am
Regardless of weather or not Madigan is charged, which there isn’t a lot here to make you think he will be, this investigation, the arrest of Burke and the ouster of Berrios, should ultimately fairness, reduce the cost of doing business in the city, and benefit those who were previously disadvantaged by not being politically connected or able to afford the right attorney.

Comment by Anon Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 9:33 am
Tony Peraica’s lawsuit may just be icing on the cake.

Comment by steve Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 9:34 am
–Retiring Ald. Danny Solis (25th) received sex acts, Viagra, free weekend use of an Indiana farm..–

As an old farm boy who heard many shocking tales back in the day as to the utility of employing the barnyard fence in relation to cows and practical animal husbandry, so to speak, I was prepared for a much different conclusion to this lede.

But then, the order should have been “use of farm, Viagra, sex acts….”

LP, given your chosen handle, I’m sure you know what I’m talking about.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 9:35 am
It could appear that a certain property tax appeals attorney was attempting to use his political office for personal private gain.

Comment by steve Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 9:37 am
As damaging as I wish this was, it’s what everyone knows has been happening for years except now there’s just a tape to go with it. Unfortunately, this doesn’t do much.

As my man Oswego says…”It’s now a waiting game”

Comment by Mistaken Daily Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 9:37 am
===appear===

We don’t know the before and after the meeting…

“Appear” could be ethical, not criminal?

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 9:38 am
These attacks will only make Madigan stronger.

There is no stopping The Madigan.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 9:40 am
Man, a lot of heroes going down.

Tough couple of months for Chicago area Dems.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 9:40 am
This is a highly unusual investigation. So far the three politicians involved are the two most powerful Chicago Aldermen and now the Speaker of the Illinois House. Generally, small names appear first. Not this one.

Comment by steve Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 9:41 am
=Remember it is the Republican Party that is in serious trouble in Illinois and on the verge of extinction.=

Thanks for the reminder. You’re correct that in spite of the Speaker being about as unpopular as the last governor, the Republicans still managed to get shellacked in statewide and congressional races. After all this time Madigan’s lack of popularity hasn’t translated to Republican’s winning office. Maybe time for the bots to be upgraded?

Comment by Pundent Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 9:43 am
==Just ask Blago why he’s in jail. Just because money didn’t change hands doesn’t mean you will not get indicted…..===

*sigh* I guess I missed in the article where Madigan asked for political contributions in return for an official act. The only one who so much as hinted at such was Solis, which is why he got caught out and subsequently rolled over. All the tapes in the article suggest from Madigan is that he’s claiming his firm’s services are different and better than other firms’ services. Bluster from an attorney, whodathunkit?

Comment by Anon324 Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 9:45 am
There was no “this for that,” as was in the case for Blagojevich. Unless the FBI has that on tape somewhere then this is just a way to sell newspapers on a slow news day. And if there was such a tape, why would the FBI tip their hand with this tape getting released before charges were filed? This just plays into some people’s Madigan fantasy.

Comment by A Jack Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 9:45 am
So the upshot is that Madigan pitched his firm to the company, and then Solis said, ‘you should really hire Madigan because then everything will work out for you?’

I guess the nice thing about being the boss is that other people say the quiet part loud for you. And get caught.

Comment by lakeside Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 9:51 am
Will this be the photograph of 2019 that many Illinois politicians will remember even though it happened in 2015?

https://nalert.blogspot.com/2019/01/will-this-be-photograph-of-2019-that.html

Comment by steve Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 9:51 am
Need more there to be there, but anything that pierces the numbness to how deeply unethical the Speaker is makes for Christmas in January.

PS - anyone have a good explanation for why Madigan would say they’d turn away a client who -only- could get them a “quick killing”? Maybe they can rename the firm The Unicorn Group, LLP.

Comment by lake county democrat Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 9:52 am
Amendment to prior comment: Solis didn’t ask for political contributions, he asked for personal favors and delayed performance of official acts until those favors were granted.

Comment by Anon324 Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 9:53 am
I guess the bots have moved from Russia to Chinatown.

By the reporting so far, this goes way deeper than just the most powerful alderman in Chicago and the Most powerful Politician in Illinois.

Thousands of recorded phone calls of politicians over the past 5 years by the Feds because Lisa Madigan was only concerned with investigating The Legionaires outbreak at Quincy that happened during the Rauner administration and not corruption in the Democratic party.

https://www.chicagobusiness.com/government/corruption-fighting-ag-easy-say-harder-do

https://www.ilnews.org/news/state_politics/rauner-current-attorney-general-protecting-status-quo-of-corruption/article_2d6d4138-9cb0-11e8-a235-ebe8640e9522.html

lucky
(ˈlʌkɪ)
adj
[person] 幸运(運)的 (xìngyùn de)

Pierre

皮埃尔
Pí āi ěr

Comment by Lucky Pierre Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 9:57 am
===Will this be the photograph of 2019 that many Illinois politicians will remember even though it happened in 2015?===

Emanuel is leaving office, Gutierrez is *out* of office, you can’t beat Durbin with no one.

- steve -, take a breath, watch what does happen.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 9:58 am
@lakeside - Exactly! Nothing in the report on this tape shows any wrongdoing by Madigan.

Comment by Shevek Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 9:58 am
To me, the saddest part about this is that Illinois has an Attorney General, a State Police, auditors, a Procurment Policy Board, a bar association, an Executive Ethics Commission, hundreds of laws and rules, so many regulatory entities, yet none of these institutions are strong enough to change the status quo of corruption, nepotism and insider dealing, on any level. In Illinois, real change will only come from Federal involvement

Comment by Merica Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 9:59 am
Doesn’t the fact this was put in there by the FBI mean they don’t have much on Madigan? Think about it: they’re conducting an investigation into a city alderman - a powerful one, yes, but still just an alderman. If you’re the FBI, aren’t you much more interested in wrongdoing by a someone who is both Speaker of the House and chairman of a state political party? If they had enough evidence to charge Madigan and we’re planning to do so, wouldn’t this all would have been redacted or left out entirely? I would guess they’d have looked into any possible wrongdoing by Madigan immediately, before zeroing in on Burke.

This is probably just a replay of the 90’s where IL GOP was sure Madigan was going to jail, only to be sorely disappointed later.

Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 10:00 am
Unless there’s more, Madigan walked up to the line and danced on his side of it. The fact that the US attorney’s office authorized the recording does make me wonder if they have more.

The legal corruption is just as bad, if not worse, than what is illegal. This old principle has been aggravated by recent Supreme Court decisions, limiting the “honest services
doctrine.

Comment by Keyrock Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 10:04 am
Reyes quote where he says he never asked solis for business right after the paragraph with Reyes on tape asking solis to kick him business was funniest part of article.

Comment by D Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 10:05 am
===yet none of these institutions are strong enough to change the status quo of corruption, nepotism and insider dealing, on any level. In Illinois, real change will only come from Federal involvement.===

For your nonsense to make sense… you have to be able to show this federal criminal investigation with Solis leading to Burke, to today’s reporting was all under the pervue of *all* those entities and none got involved.

Also, what is the role of the Attorney General of Illinois?

Because you want something doesn’t mean the means to that end are plausible.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 10:05 am
- Oswego Willy -

You are a bright guy . It appears that Alderman Solis wasn’t just wearing a wire on Alderman Ed Burke….

Comment by steve Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 10:08 am
Eh. How does this help the ILGOP?

Say MJM resigns in disgrace. If the ILGOP is no longer able to wail “because Madigan”, wont they be rendered mute? (in addition to moot)

Comment by Henry Francis Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 10:12 am
===You are a bright guy.===

Debatable. I’d lean “meh, probably not”

===It appears that Alderman Solis wasn’t just wearing a wire on Alderman Ed Burke….===

Yep. It appears so. Speculating on any or all targets, those who may or may not be on tape, even speculating on where this all goes… I dunno.

Pictures are worth a thousands words but they don’t necessarily write criminal complaints for any of them.

We don’t know what we don’t know… outside the outstanding Sun Times reporting this morning. Blockbuster work.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 10:12 am
–Tony Peraica’s lawsuit may just be icing on the cake.–

Must be a pretty stupid cake.

What do you have, counselor? Make your case.

Having said that, the hook to this story is significant, in that the federales were/are certainly fishing to get Madigan, sending someone wired up into his office.

The fact that Madigan is a powerful public official who leverages his position to make rain for his private law practice has been well-known for many decades. The ethics are dodgy, at best, but unless you want to ban outside income for legislators, you’re whistling Dixie.

If you’ll recall when former federal prosecutor Patrick Collins was running Quinn’s post-Blago ethics commission, it was clear that the federales had been on Madigan for some time, without result. All of the reforms Collins pushed dealt with the legislative branch, not the executive.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 10:13 am
Simply, it looks like the Fed’s are giving him a break instead of prosecuting him……. the man should serve time.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 10:14 am
- Oswego Willy -

I generally agree with. I will second what you said about the Chicago Sun-Times: they are doing outstanding work. That’s real reporting. Real journalism is worth money.

Comment by steve Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 10:18 am
Do you think the Feds would give any of these Illinois Democrats who are under investigation the full Roger Stone arrest by 29 FBI agents in full tactical gear and weapons drawn with armored vehicles and a helicopter flying above?

Me neither

Comment by Lucky Pierre Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 10:20 am
Shevek - I mean, I’m not exactly leaping for joy that the Speaker of the IL House is also allowed to maintain a lucrative side business with an obvious quid pro quo for clients that, I would argue, interferes with his work for the public good. But it does at least appear that he’s too smart to ham-fist potential clients and beg them for street viagra. This shouldn’t be a bigger headline than the Solis story, at the moment.

Comment by lakeside Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 10:27 am
Here’s the rub: Solis is likely licked. The only way he can beat this is if he had a stroke or something.

Comment by Colin O'Scopy Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 10:32 am
“Retiring Ald. Danny Solis (25th) received sex acts, Viagra, free weekend use of an Indiana farm once owned by Oprah Winfrey…”

That’s a sequence of words I somehow never expected to read.

Comment by IllinoisBoi Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 10:35 am
My guess is that Madigan scrupulously followed the laws that he basically wrote. Since he had a meeting in his law office regarding possible legal business there is evidence of the separation from his legislative role. Unless he offers or implies a quid pro quo, it seems unlikely that he will be ensnared in this mess. Perhaps Solis wanted to impress people with his access to Madigan. However this shakes out, my guess is Madigan followed the law. My apologies to all the Madigan haters out there but I just don’t see this taking him out.

Comment by Trapped in the 'burbs Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 10:36 am
===the full Roger Stone arrest===

Depends. Did anyone of them go to a gun range with a conspiracy theorist to prepare for a civil war? https://www.mediamatters.org/blog/2017/12/21/alex-jones-and-roger-stone-visited-gun-range-prepare-civil-war-if-trump-removed-office/218934

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 10:39 am
===Do you think the Feds would give any of these…===

Your “whataboutism” to try to show, what you think, and inherit difference or bias is boring and weak.

Look, Rauner is gone, step up, add to things. You were the defender to now looking like a drive-by, tin foil hat wearing, parody of your own parody ways.

You can be better. You’re choosing these angles, that’s how I know you can be better.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 10:44 am
Feds clearly got all the squeals they could from the rat Solis. If they could’ve indicted anybody else they would’ve with Burke. Only Ed & Danny will go down, the speaker is made of teflon

Comment by Near West side Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 10:44 am
To be fair, there is not enough information here for us to determine whether or not this news on Madigan amounts to something.
We do have enough information to show that Solis was desperate to flip.

Comment by Jake From Elwood Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 10:45 am
I would like to know why the hotel wasnt built. That might answer some key questions.

Comment by Regular democrat Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 10:45 am
==we don’t know what we don’t know.==

Good observation to keep in mind about all of this. That said, I am amazed that so many Illinois savvy people are on here this morning bravely sticking up for Madigan on what appears to be the “he’s too smart to get caught and never has before” platform. Yeah, this is the same old political milieu but a new and different technological environment the old boys are having to maneuver in.

Comment by Responsa Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 10:48 am
Maybe the Feds are utilizing the tactics of one Harry Callahan in “Sudden Impact”, where he threatened the Mob Boss at his Granddaughter’s wedding reception with an envelope full of blank papers.

Comment by Stuntman Bob's Brother Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 10:49 am
REG. DEM

You bring up an interesting point…why wasn’t the hotel built?

Could this whole thing just have been a setup ?

Comment by MOON Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 10:49 am
====Having said that, the hook to this story is significant, in that the federales were/are certainly fishing to get Madigan, sending someone wired up into his office.===

And authorized by Obama’s Justice Department too. This investigation has been going on for four years. Who knows what else they have on tape.

Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 10:52 am
–Do you think the Feds would give any of these Illinois Democrats who are under investigation the full Roger Stone arrest by 29 FBI agents in full tactical gear and weapons drawn with armored vehicles and a helicopter flying above?–

You need a play date with Kass. You can dress up and play cable TV gasbag in mom’s basement.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 10:52 am
Given the way Madigan’s been targeted by the ALEC-types, I wouldn’t be surprised if he treats every conversation like it’s being taped. So you haters may not find much solace in the recordings.

Comment by Quantum of Solis Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 10:52 am
“because Lisa Madigan was only concerned with investigating The Legionaires outbreak at Quincy that happened during the Rauner administration and not corruption in the Democratic party.”

You’re such an empty vessel. The Feds are investigating corruption because they have subpoena power, wiretapping power and this is their job. It literally is not the job of the AG whether that AG is named Madigan or Raoul or Harold. Erika Harold would be the first to tell you (and I was at an event where she said precisely this) that the IL AG has no power and no authority to launch such investigations. So spare us…please.

Comment by Chicago Cynic Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 10:53 am
The last comment is spot on. If the hotel was built and they signed onto a long term relationship with Madigan’s law firm and then get a subsequent tax break, then maybe there is a problem. This article is just a lot of noise.

Comment by "Old Timer Dem" Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 10:54 am
All they had to do is tell Stone’s attorney to turn himself in at a certain time. What they did was beyond crazy.

Wonder how CNN knew to stake out his house in the early morning????

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 10:57 am
My guess is the fact that the Sun-Times learned about this Madigan tape means that this is all the feds were able to get on him. If they were building a case against him, we’d learn about it at the indictment, not on the front page.

Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 11:04 am
Most interesting line in article is how Madigan wasn’t interested in making a fast buck. He is really careful which is why he has survived

Comment by Sue Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 11:06 am
=All they had to do is tell Stone’s attorney to turn himself in at a certain time. What they did was beyond crazy.=

He was preparing to destroy evidence. Why do you want to give comfort to these secessionists and others who take positions against the USA?

Comment by Duopoly Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 11:07 am
Makes me wonder if this had anything to do with why Luis Guttierez didn’t seek reelection. That was a head-scratcher last year.

Comment by northsider (the original) Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 11:10 am
==Me neither==

I love that you’re turning into a full QAnon looney tune.

Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 11:12 am
Anonymous - CNN had the courthouse staked out. The special counsel’s office usually meets with the grand jury on Friday, but was there Thursday last week. The last time that happened, an indictment followed the next day. Everybody guessed Roger Stone was next in line. Good work by CNN, but not a deep state plot. Sorry.

Comment by Keyrock Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 11:13 am
Dems of course are too busy spreading crackpot conspiracy theories about Trump to address the actual corruption that’s rife in their party.

Comment by GOPgal Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 11:18 am
==Good work by CNN==

Eh maybe. We just have to take their word for it that they’re just really good and weren’t tipped off at all. I can’t say that lines up with my personal experiences with CNN.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 11:22 am
===Dems of course… about Trump===

For the love of Pete…

Out of Solis, Burke, and Madigan, the only known person that has been charged… is Burke.

We have no idea what Solis is facing, faces, faced… or what this…or if there are other tapes… means for Madigan.

It’s not great, but not great… meaning what?

The whataboutism here… watch what is actually happening or being reported, outstandingly by the Sun Times.

These revelations do nothing about Trump, nor do they clarify where things are or what is happening around it.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 11:24 am
GOPgal — what corruption do you see here?

Unless you have some additional information that you should definitely share with the FBI, Madigan’s statements strike me as the exact type of pitch you’d hear from a million lawyers.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 11:25 am
In high school history, they had us read a book of speeches “George Wahington Plunkitt”, an unscrupulous NYC political boss. Plunkitt made the distinction between “honest graft” - which seems to be a Madigan specialty - and “dishonest graft”, the latter being illegal as well as unethical. My best is Madigan is guilty of “honest graft” only, and stays out of legal trouble.

Comment by DarkHorse Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 11:25 am
Both 11:22 and 11:25 are me. I’m having some issues today with technology.

Comment by chuddery Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 11:26 am
Somebody is giving CNN WAY too much credit. Loved the tweet that stated the government sent more men and guns to arrest Stone than they sent to help on the Benghazi attack.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 11:27 am
Does anyone have a copy of the actual affidavit? I did not see one in the Sun-Times’ story. I bet it makes for some fun reading material.

Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 11:32 am
Big uptick in the trumpy trolls on here lately. Expect Rich to be rounded up among the 60,000 q’s taking down any day now. It’s been a ride, Miller, but you must be stopped, etc., etc.

Comment by lakeside Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 11:32 am
Nothing then or now prohibits members of the GA who are lawyers from having a practice dealing with real estate property tax. Nothing was said, in what we’ve been made aware of, that approximates the Burke “Hire my firm and nobody gets hurt” pitch for business. Madigan came across as his usual taciturn self, what you don’t say can’t come back to haunt you.

Comment by West Side the Best Side Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 11:35 am
A few thoughts:

1. Whoever did the surveillance on Solis in the massage parlor deserves combat pay.

2. The lack of search warrants on MJM offices to date says to me that they did not expect to find anything there.

3. Why take down Burke but not Madigan? Maybe they expect Burke to roll over on Madigan but I also expect that there is nothing other than Burke’s word at best to hang Madigan out to dry (if that even exists) and even then, I doubt that there were ever explicit conversations.

3. Burke and Madigan are competitors in the property tax appeal arena. Food for thought about why one is under indictment and the other isn’t.

Comment by The Way I See It Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 11:37 am
==Somebody is giving CNN WAY too much credit.==

Not really. A ton of people were speculating that Stone was going to be indicted on Friday. You only have to give CNN as much credit as you would give to a Twitter rando.

Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 11:38 am
Seems to me, that Madigan could be every bit as sleezy as Trump. Now the question from yesterday, can a party boss be a progressive.

Comment by Blue Dog Dem Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 11:46 am
“Simply, it looks like the Fed’s are giving him a break instead of prosecuting him……. the man should serve time”

Right now we have Solis referring a businessman to a good property tax lawyer. Nothing that’s come out (yet) has the Speaker promising any kind of quid pro quo. Heck, he himself couldn’t take any official action; zoning and permits are a city matter. Unless Madigan gave Solis a kickback (or promised to give, as this deal never got off the ground), this seems shady and unethical, but not really illegal. Everything’s all “wink wink, nudge nudge” enough to slip under the radar.

Comment by Perrid Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 11:51 am
===I would like to know why the hotel wasnt built. That might answer some key questions.===

Personally speaking, that location is terrible and with it being right up against the Metra tracks and just outside of what most people would consider to be Chinatown.

Comment by CT Resident Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 11:53 am
The biggest surprise to me is how much older Danny Solis is than his sister. I didn’t realize he was almost 70. Hey, at his age, he gets around.

Comment by Comms Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 11:56 am
Focus people, who really gives a hoot about Stone, CNN or whatever…

The story is about Madigan supposedly being taped, I guess I missed the part where they say he admitted to being involved in the Lindberg kidnapping.

The idea that someone wore a wire on Madigan is interesting in and of its self. It seems that someone with a federal investigative entity thought that was an exercise worth undertaking.

An alderman who had 18,000 conversations recorded is an interesting story.

As much as it seems some like to view Madigan as this sort of perfect Teflon Icon the idea that the G made an effort is an interesting development in Illinois politics. Before he was indicted Burke reminded everyone that he had been investigated before and nothing came of it.

So I would say as much as people might say “ho hum, it’s Madigan and he never places a foot wrong” just the revelation of this doesn’t do him any favors.

Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 12:09 pm
omg..everyone seems so shocked… but hey, blame rauner right???

Comment by jimmydean Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 12:25 pm
Forget it… it’s Chinatown.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 12:26 pm
===but hey, blame rauner right???===

Whew. Bet that felt good, three question marks too…

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 12:28 pm
- steve - Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 9:31 am:

- Grandson of Man -

Just ask Blago why he’s in jail.
————

Not to change the subject but speaking of Blago, exactly 10 years ago today was one of the most important days in Illinois history, one in which he was involved.

Comment by Leatherneck Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 1:07 pm
knew Roberto Caldero years ago but somehow I missed this in the ’70s https://outlet.historicimages.com/products/rse64757 cool photo

Comment by Amalia Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 1:34 pm
Adding on to the Blagojevich comments and the Roger Stone comments. A SWAT team was sent to Rod’s house the morning of his arrest too. I think its the Feds’ MO if they are going to be making an arrest of someone they fear may become volatile.

http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/December-2018/The-Day-They-Came-for-Rod-Blagojevich/

Comment by Juice Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 1:45 pm
==You bring up an interesting point…why wasn’t the hotel built?==
Cold feet by investors perhaps? Competition by the old Cook County hospital project made this hotel look less profitable on paper?
“Capitalism is red in tooth and claw.” Someone didn’t want to wear claw marks I suppose.

Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 1:47 pm
At this point, not much on Madigan.

Doesn’t look very good and emphasizes that pay for play politics may be the standard in Chicago politics, but that is a far cry from being illegal.

Comment by Nonbeleiver Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 1:58 pm
–Thousands of recorded phone calls of politicians over the past 5 years by the Feds because Lisa Madigan was only concerned with investigating The Legionaires outbreak at Quincy that happened during the Rauner administration and not corruption in the Democratic party.–

Yeah, investigating vet deaths in Quincy — such an unworthy endeavor.

Perhaps you could identify by statute and the budget book where any Illinois AG would have the authority and resources to pull off a four-year undercover investigation with wiretaps. Must be there somewhere.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 2:05 pm
–This investigation has been going on for four years. Who knows what else they have on tape.–

True. I wouldn’t presume anyone is such an alleged chess-master that they couldn’t slip up. It’s a dangerous game for public officials to be chasing private business when the federales are tuned in.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 2:10 pm
The affidavit certainly includes the names of dozens of elected officials Solis had contact with during period in question but Madigan sells papers.

Nothing illegal, no Madigan investigation. Cheap attempt to sell a few papers.

Comment by collateral Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 2:51 pm
This whole thing seems heavy in implicating Solis and very distant from implicating Madigan. But it has to do with Madigan, so of course it’s being trumpeted as a real “gotcha.”

I mean, the picture of Madigan on the Illinois Policy piece makes him look like a Scorcese character.

Comment by NomChompsky Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 11:08 pm