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Mapes trial roundup

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Two months after the feds made a big move on allies of then-Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan in 2019, one longtime lieutenant of the Southwest Side Democrat reached out to another. […]

McClain complained to Mapes of “psychological pressure,” and he warned they probably shouldn’t speak.

“I do not think we should talk in person or on the phone for a while,” McClain wrote to Mapes on July 16, 2019. “I cannot explain but trust me this is serious.” […]

McClain was right to be concerned about speaking on the phone, as his had already been wiretapped by the feds for several months. During that time, Madigan had forced Mapes to resign as chief of staff over unrelated bullying and harassment allegations.

* Hannah Meisel…

We’ve now seen seven other emails exchanges between McClain and Mapes (up to a year later) that started w McClain forwarding Mapes @capitolfax’s morning or afternoon emails, followed up by Mapes wishing him well and the two saying they missed each other/their families.

— Hannah Meisel (@hannahmeisel) August 14, 2023

…Adding… Capitol News Illinois…

In a May 2020 email exchange that centered around McClain’s health and pandemic-related worries, Mapes asked if McClain was “surviving the feds up north.”

“The feds are still after me and our Friend,” McClain wrote, using a euphemism he often employed when speaking about Madigan.

Less than two months later, federal prosecutors announced electric utility Commonwealth Edison – McClain’s biggest lobbying client for decades – had entered into a $200 million deferred prosecution agreement and agreed to cooperate with the feds’ investigation into an alleged bribery scheme aimed at currying favor with Madigan. […]

Despite McClain’s warning to Mapes that the two shouldn’t speak on the phone, FBI special agent Ryan McDonald on Monday testified – after looking at call records on the witness stand – that McClain called Mapes in October 2020. The call lasted a little over 14 minutes, McDonald said.

* Judge Kness allowed Assistant U.S. Attorney Amarjeet Bhachu into the courtroom yesterday, after the defense named him as a potential witness…

Bhachu asked Mapes the questions before the grand jury that led to the perjury charge against Mapes.

— Jon Seidel (@SeidelContent) August 14, 2023

* Jason Meitner on what to expect today…

Prosecutors say they intend to call former Madigan operative Will Cousineau to the stand on Tuesday.
They want to ask him about a 2014 memo detailing a meeting of Madigan's inner circle about an investigation by the legislative IG into allegations of favorable hiring at Metra

— Jason Meisner (@jmetr22b) August 14, 2023

* More from the Sun-Times…

Cousineau also took the stand in March during McClain’s trial, having secured immunity from prosecutors who made clear he was not a target of the investigation.

During that appearance, prosecutors played a recording the FBI had made of aDecember 2018 call in which Madigan could be heard soliciting strategic advice about who should serve on his upcoming leadership team in the Illinois General Assembly.

“I understand we have a lot of people walking around trying to find things to complain about,” Madigan could be heard saying in the Dec. 9, 2018, chat with his inner circle.

“Every once in a while, the speaker gets to do what he wants to do,” Madigan said. […]

That call took place after Mapes resigned as Madigan’s chief of staff. However, the feds say Mapes remained in close contact with McClain into 2019.

* Jon Seidel…

Lawyers are chatting with the judge about various issues. Judge Kness asks how they are doing time-wise.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane MacArthur says they are "moving slowly." After previously predicting that they'd wrap up their case early this week, they need the whole week. https://t.co/zJfOzNYUJ6

— Jon Seidel (@SeidelContent) August 14, 2023

* Related…

* Tribune | Tim Mapes perjury trial: Evidence seen and heard by the jury: Tim Mapes, former chief of staff to ex-House Speaker Michael Madigan, was captured on dozens of undercover FBI recordings talking about his family, political fundraising and his ouster in a 2018 sexual harassment scandal. The conversations shed new light on the behind-the-scenes maneuvering and relationships among key members of Madigan’s inner circle as a series of scandals began to threaten the Democratic speaker’s decadeslong grip on power.

* Tribune | What you need to know — and what’s next for Tim Mapes: Follow [Tribune] writers — Megan Crepeau and Ray Long — for the latest news and see coverage throughout the trial.

posted by Isabel Miller
Tuesday, Aug 15, 23 @ 9:41 am

Comments

Maybe it’s time to cancel McClain’s Cap Fax subscription?

Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Aug 15, 23 @ 9:46 am
=== Prosecutors say they intend to call former Madigan operative Will Cousineau to the stand on Tuesday. They want to ask him about a 2014 memo detailing a meeting of Madigan’s inner circle about an investigation by the legislative IG into allegations of favorable hiring at Metra ===

What does this have to do with the perjury charges? Was this a topic that Mapes was asked about in front of the grand jury? Otherwise I do not see how this is relevant.

Comment by Hannibal Lecter Tuesday, Aug 15, 23 @ 9:54 am
I cannot begin to imagine the pucker effect when a confidant tells me that it’s best we not talk on the phone or email anymore. Yet Mapes remained in contact with McClain. So foolish. They deserve what they’ve got coming.

Comment by Speaker of the grouse Tuesday, Aug 15, 23 @ 10:36 am
=== started w McClain forwarding Mapes @capitolfax’s morning or afternoon emails===

With it being State Fair week this seems pretty low priority, but I would love to know which CapFax content McClain was forwarding to Mapes.

Comment by Candy Dogood Tuesday, Aug 15, 23 @ 10:38 am
The organized crime syndicate (without the murder) is coming unraveled and the principles will spend their golden years in prison.

Perhaps as alarming as the acts themselves is the reality that so many in State Government circles didn’t understand that it was wrong and many still do not get it.

That juries of citizens who are not “insiders” find all of this appalling is predictable . . . . . .because it is, and always was, appalling.

That Mapes could have avoided all of this by simply being truthful is precious.

Comment by Just In Case Tuesday, Aug 15, 23 @ 10:44 am
Hey Rich, you going to go after McClain for sharing subscriber only content?

Comment by Excitable Boy Tuesday, Aug 15, 23 @ 10:48 am
What was it about McClain that endeared him to Madigan? He doesent seem very brightz

Comment by low level Tuesday, Aug 15, 23 @ 12:22 pm
Back in the day, the FBI had means to keep tabs on local politicians. Counselor’s Row, a hot spot near City Hall, provided information through a bug planted in the restaurant.

The camera in Booth One recorded many politicians who visited with alderman serving on the City Council. The aldermen were a “Who’s Who” of the City Council members.

Even with the passage of time, some things never change.

Comment by Rudy’s teeth Tuesday, Aug 15, 23 @ 12:27 pm
I can see facing down the Feds. But risking Rich’s banhammer? That’s serious

Comment by Soccermom Tuesday, Aug 15, 23 @ 12:38 pm
I doubt very much Rich will go after McClain….too nice of a guy.

Comment by Ryder Tuesday, Aug 15, 23 @ 12:52 pm
==started w McClain forwarding Mapes @capitolfax’s morning or afternoon emails==

Well I hope Mapes had a subscription otherwise they need to add another charge to his indictment /s/

Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Aug 15, 23 @ 1:06 pm
==What was it about McClain that endeared him to Madigan? He doesent seem very brightz==

You answered your own question.

Comment by Dearborn Tuesday, Aug 15, 23 @ 1:14 pm
IT SAYS DO NOT FORWARD AT THE TOP (banned punctuation)

Comment by WillCo Dude Tuesday, Aug 15, 23 @ 1:31 pm
===IT SAYS DO NOT FORWARD AT THE TOP===

lol

My own reaction to seeing that tweet yesterday was unprintable here.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Aug 15, 23 @ 2:22 pm
Sounds like Mapes and McClain owe Rich some money.

Comment by Marty Funkhouser Tuesday, Aug 15, 23 @ 2:36 pm
Hopefully Mapes and McClain can share a cell; they can talk about the good old days, and how important and powerful they were…

Comment by Lincoln Lad Tuesday, Aug 15, 23 @ 3:13 pm
Perhaps McClain and Mapes are hoping prison is like Henry Hill describes it:

In prison, dinner was always a big thing. We had a pasta course and then we had a meat or fish. Paulie did the prep work. He was doing a year for contempt, and he had this wonderful system for doing the garlic. He used a razor, and he used to slice it so thin that he used to liquefy in the pan with just a little oil. It was a very good system.

Comment by don the legend Tuesday, Aug 15, 23 @ 3:27 pm
- don the legend -

Hey. You’re not a mobster.

To the post,

For me, what’s interesting to process here are the questions to recollection and what interpretations are needed to educate the jury to what is what with who.

As this process is going, I think about the reality of what allegedly Mapes coulda used in “refreshing” his memory to what is alleged, which is being purposely untruthful.

Been thinking about the questioning/answering tactic of “if you say so” to avoid entrapment to the answer but also making the Feds discuss where that question is in what they already know.

It’s a parlor game, until you are in trial for perjury. It’s no fun and illegal to play games like these.

There is no reason for this trial except for the unneeded hubris wrapped around unnecessary loyalty.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Aug 15, 23 @ 3:35 pm
=Hey. You’re not a mobster.=

Only Willy gets to make mob references. More bullying. Noted.

Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Tuesday, Aug 15, 23 @ 4:16 pm
===Noted===

When you finish arguing with yourself about the merits of signing Contreras… maybe you’d understand it’s a joke today, and I’m playing along with that.

It likely went over your head…

If you have a thought to Mapes, that’d be interesting.

To Will Cousineau‘s testimony, whew.

@jmetr22b - “…Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane MacArthur is asking about Tim Mapes. Cousineau is choking up as she asks if he recently reached out to him to wish him a happy birthday.

“He did,” Cousineau says, almost in a whisper.

Did he get the date right?

“He did.”…”

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Aug 15, 23 @ 4:25 pm

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Mapes trial roundup

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