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US Attorney issues press release: “The indictment charges four individuals with bribery conspiracy, bribery, and willfully falsifying ComEd books and records” - Arraignments not yet scheduled

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Illinois

* Again, the indictment is here. Press release…

Former Commonwealth Edison executives, including the former Chief Executive Officer, conspired with outside consultants to corruptly influence and reward a high-level elected official for the State of Illinois to assist with the passage of legislation favorable to the electric utility company, according to an indictment returned today in U.S. District Court in Chicago.

The indictment charges four individuals with bribery conspiracy, bribery, and willfully falsifying ComEd books and records:

· MICHAEL McCLAIN, 73, of Quincy, Ill. McClain worked as a lobbyist and/or consultant for ComEd after serving in the Illinois House of Representatives in the 1970s and early 1980s.

· ANNE PRAMAGGIORE, 62, of Barrington, Ill. Pramaggiore was CEO of ComEd from 2012 to 2018, and later served as a senior executive at an affiliate of Exelon Corp., of which ComEd was a subsidiary.

· JOHN HOOKER, 71, of Chicago, Ill. Hooker served as ComEd’s executive vice president of legislative and external affairs from 2009 to 2012, after which he worked as an external lobbyist for ComEd.

· JAY DOHERTY, 67, of Chicago, Ill. Doherty owned Jay D. Doherty & Associates, which performed consulting services for ComEd from approximately 2011 to 2019.

Arraignments in federal court in Chicago have not yet been scheduled.

The indictment was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Emmerson Buie, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI; and Tamera Cantu, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation Division in Chicago. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amarjeet S. Bhachu, Diane MacArthur, Timothy J. Chapman, Sarah E. Streicker, Matthew L. Kutcher, and Michelle Kramer.

According to the charges, the defendants’ efforts to influence and reward the high-level elected official – identified in the indictment as “Public Official A” – began in or around 2011 and continued through in or around 2019. During that time, Public Official A controlled what measures were called for a vote in the Illinois House of Representatives and exerted substantial influence over fellow lawmakers concerning legislation affecting ComEd, the indictment states. The charges allege that the defendants conspired to corruptly influence and reward Public Official A by arranging for jobs and contracts for Public Official A’s political allies and workers, even in instances where those people performed little or no work that ComEd purportedly hired them to perform. The defendants allegedly created and caused the creation of false contracts, invoices, and other books and records to disguise the true nature of some of the payments and to circumvent internal controls at ComEd.

In addition to the jobs and contracts, the indictment alleges that the defendants undertook other efforts to influence and reward Public Official A, including causing ComEd to retain a particular outside law firm favored by Public Official A and to accept into ComEd’s internship program a certain amount of students who resided in the Chicago ward associated with Public Official A. Pramaggiore and McClain also allegedly took steps to have an individual appointed to ComEd’s Board of Directors at the request of Public Official A and McClain, the indictment states.

The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the Court must impose reasonable sentences under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Nov 18, 20 @ 7:08 pm

Comments

==The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.==

If only the government took its own recommendation to the public.

Speaker Madigan (1983-1995, 1997-2021)

Comment by Precinct Captain Wednesday, Nov 18, 20 @ 7:36 pm
Interesting to see what they can develop to demonstrate their base assumptions about Person A’s personal power and delivery of value back to Com Ed. The legislative process is not as simple as many like to pretend.

Comment by walker Wednesday, Nov 18, 20 @ 7:43 pm
McClain may never talk. Pramaggiore on the other hand may have no such loyalty. Madigan has been the ultimate survivor. Will they all walk away happy?

Comment by SSL Wednesday, Nov 18, 20 @ 7:45 pm
It’s amazing at the lengths ComEd had to go to improve the electrical infrastructure reliability of their customers.

Comment by Chicago 20 Wednesday, Nov 18, 20 @ 7:53 pm
Good point Chicago 20!! ^^ Lol.

Gives new meaning to the phrase Smart Grid.
Oy. We’re going to need a crib sheet for all the players… Ochoa, Olivo, former Ald. Zalewski

Comment by dupage progressive Wednesday, Nov 18, 20 @ 8:00 pm
“Interesting to see what they can develop to demonstrate their base assumptions about Person A’s personal power and delivery of value back to Com Ed”

The indictment says they have him on the phone with McClain advising Madigan that Pramaggiore initially experienced push back on appointing Board Member 1. This is direct acknowledgement. The delivery back to ComEd is (i) FEJA, (ii) defeating unfavorable legislation. The indictment is on McClain but they clearly have direct evidence on Madigan (enough evidence though for a slam dunk?). Does getting (and flipping?) McClain provide more direct evidence against Madigan for a stronger and/or more encompassing indictment against Madigan and other associates? The case is there but the Feds want more and want Madigan in jail longer than McClain. That will take a little longer to happen as the filing only directly involves Madigan with the Board position and indirectly on the other charges.

Comment by 1st Ward Wednesday, Nov 18, 20 @ 8:02 pm
===Pramaggiore on the other hand may have no such loyalty.===
I doubt she ever spent more than a passing minute with the speaker alone.

Comment by Been There Wednesday, Nov 18, 20 @ 8:50 pm
Interesting choice of folks. All of them are in the latter part of their life and likely have kids and grandkids that they want to see and things they want to do with their lives while they still can. I’m all for loyalty, but my first loyalty is to my family. If I’m in there shoes and a reduced sentence is offered, I’m singing like a canary.

Comment by AD Wednesday, Nov 18, 20 @ 9:06 pm
McClain may not talk but it may not matter because everyone else indicted today probably will talk.

Comment by Southern Skeptic Wednesday, Nov 18, 20 @ 9:11 pm
They say the first one to talk gets the better deal

Comment by Deejay726 Thursday, Nov 19, 20 @ 12:20 am
Beyond any spin, being caught cooking the books is always a bad look– but especially when it involves the mixture of elements of government, politically connected lawyers and big business (none of which the average person trusts).

Comment by Responsa Thursday, Nov 19, 20 @ 7:26 am
ComEd in deep doodoo…doesn’t happen often…but when it does…it’s sticky sweet.

Comment by Dotnonymous Thursday, Nov 19, 20 @ 12:48 pm