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How Mike Madigan and Mike McClain killed a Lisa Madigan energy bill

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Illinois

* Jason Meisner and Ray Long…

A newly unsealed search warrant in the ComEd bribery probe centered on former House Speaker Michael Madigan provides the greatest detail yet about an alleged behind-the-scenes effort to kill an energy bill supported by Madigan’s daughter, the then-Illinois attorney general.

“We got — we’ve gotta kill it. Period,” Madigan’s longtime confidant, Michael McClain, allegedly told ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore in a recorded call in May 2018. “The problem is, any day now, the budget is gonna suck all the oxygen out of the building … and the members won’t be paying any attention to our lobbyists … and Lisa Madigan’s gonna walk in and say, ‘This is my legacy legislation, please vote for me.’ ” […]

As Attorney General Madigan negotiated with ComEd, prosecutors alleged in the ex-speaker’s indictment, her father was trying to get the utility to OK two deals for his political allies: Have Juan Ochoa, former chief of the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, named to the utility’s board of directors, and get a $5,000-a-month contract for former Chicago Ald. Michael Zalewski, 23rd.

The speaker eventually got what he wanted: Paramaggiore got Ochoa appointed to the board following Madigan’s persistence, and Zalewski was also signed up, according to the charges.

And the bill Lisa Madigan supported stalled in the House.

The man pulled on a million strings.

* Jon Seidel…

Amid the alleged bribery scheme that led to ex-House Speaker Michael Madigan’s indictment, the feds say his close ally Michael McClain made a phone call and complained to a previously unidentified person about someone “offended when people ask for favors.”

Now, a newly unsealed FBI affidavit has for the first time named the person on the other end of that 2018 phone call — Andrew Madigan, the former speaker’s son. […]

The call in question occurred May 23, 2018. Earlier in the day, McClain had called Marquez, who said someone from another public utility company had complained about being pushed “really hard” to apparently hire someone, according to the affidavit. […]

Marquez told McClain that he told the person who had complained that “maybe one day you’ll have an ask and this will be remembered.”

McClain later called Andrew Madigan at 5:09 p.m., according to the affidavit. It said McClain shared his earlier conversation with Marquez. Andrew Madigan allegedly said, “Okay” and “Oh good, yeah.” McClain said Marquez told the person, “That’s what happens when you do, when you’re in this game. And you never know maybe someday you can ask for a favor.”

An FBI special agent took that as a reference to “pay-to-play.”

There’s more to both, so read the rest.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 10:23 am

Comments

Actually not much in either, but it is curious how someone “leaks”(aka unsealing for no real reason) different stuff to different outlets. The “Lisa Loses a Bill” tale could have been written oodles of times. The S-T piece is even less substantive.

Comment by Annonin' Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 10:29 am
As exceedingly careful as Speaker Madigan was reputed to be about what he said and wrote, it blows my mind that he had a blind spot to having one of his key lieutenants being so careless. Not excusing the alleged behavior by any means. It just strikes me as surprising.

Comment by Ron Burgundy Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 10:36 am
“I have a sentimental weakness for my children and I spoil them, as you can see. They talk when they should listen.” — Don Vito Corleone, The Godfather (1972)

Comment by MisterJayEm Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 10:40 am
I don’t see this as a script for the 50’s “Father Knows Best”. It would work for a 2020’s reboot, “Father Knows Best for Himself”.

I also am Captain Renault shocked that someone would complain about being asked for “favors”. I guess one man’s “favors” is another’s “extortion”. Go figure.

Comment by Norseman Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 10:42 am
It appears that Lisa Madigan is a much finer person than many people who were/are involved in Illinois politics.

Comment by Steve Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 10:52 am
- “Right, I just love these people, they are in a regulatory body, right? And they are offended when people ask for favors. Hello? Dumb s——.” -

Hysterical that this was caught on tape.

Comment by Excitable Boy Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 10:57 am
=An FBI special agent took that as a reference to “pay-to-play.”=

Hasn’t this already been defined in other case as “politics”? Not approving/endorsing the practice, but if memory serves the courts have spoken to this even recently. Unless they have cash or other material goods exchanging hands.

@Steve- you are so right.

Comment by JS Mill Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 11:00 am
When non-action is an action. I still think that concept is a stretch in a criminal bribery case.

Comment by walker Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 11:07 am
The case, at least in the reporting for me, hinges on the idea that lobbying within personalities and “horse trading” at a sinister level is the overall.

I’ll be quite interested to hear the opening argument from the prosecution, in both cases.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 11:09 am
“Congratulations, you’re Speaker again.”

Oof. That punch just goes deeper and deeper into the gut.

Comment by Dirty Red Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 11:13 am
What I cant figure out is why MJM was so enamoured with Ochoa. Why was he so important?

Comment by low level Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 1:11 pm
The more details that get leaked in the case, the thinner the Fed’s case seems to be.

Comment by duck duck goose Friday, Jun 10, 22 @ 3:43 pm