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A ComEd vice president testified Wednesday in the corruption trial of former House Speaker Michael Madigan that the utility giant was in severe financial straits leading up to its all-out effort to gain support in Springfield for two major pieces of legislation that brought the company from the brink of bankruptcy.
Their financial condition was “dire” before they managed to get key bills passed in 2011 and 2016, Scott Vogt, currently ComEd’s vice president of strategy and energy policy, told jurors. And Madigan was crucial to getting those bills through the House, both in committees and for a full vote, he said.
“He controlled to a large degree what bills were going to make it to the floor, make it to committee,” Vogt said. […]
Prosecutors had expected to play the first of nearly 200 wiretapped conversations Wednesday as well as put former Rep. Lou Lang, of Skokie, on the stand. Lang, once a ranking Democrat on Madigan’s leadership team, spent most of the day Wednesday waiting down the hall from the courtroom.
Just as they did in last year’s “ComEd Four” trial, defense attorneys are likely to lean heavily on the fact that the 2011 law, also known as “Smart Grid,” had already been heavily negotiated by Madigan’s office during the General Assembly’s spring legislative session that year. It initially passed in May 2011, three months before ComEd inked the first no-work contract with former Chicago Ald. Frank Olivo, a Madigan ally who for years represented the speaker’s Southwest Side power base in the 13th Ward.
But then-Gov. Pat Quinn vetoed the legislation, necessitating a veto override vote during lawmakers’ fall session that year […]
In 2016, ComEd and its parent company Exelon got another massive piece of legislation through the General Assembly. The Future Energy Jobs Act, which included big ratepayer subsidies to bail out two of Exelon’s nuclear power plants, also included measures that would incorporate things that customers wanted — namely energy efficiency and renewable energy — into ComEd’s business model. […]
But just like Smart Grid, passing FEJA was no easy task. Negotiations, which were led by attorneys in Madigan’s office and included a wide range of stakeholders from organized labor to environmental groups, stretched from early 2015 down to the wire on the last day of lawmakers’ fall veto session in December 2016. Under cross-examination by Madigan attorney Dan Collins, Vogt said he remembered very clearly that there were seven amendments put on the bill in the hours before it passed.
* Tribune…
But on cross-examination, Madigan attorney Dan Collins peppered Vogt with questions about the bill’s widespread benefits, including for the jurors hearing the case. The benefits included job creation and statewide infrastructure investment, Vogt testified.
McClain attorney Patrick Cotter also pressed Vogt on whether McClain ever suggested a secret deal with Madigan was afoot.
“At any point in the almost 10-year period you spent with Mike [McClain], did he ever say or do anything that led you to believe he had the ability to get Mike Madigan to take official action on behalf of ComEd?” Cotter asked.
Vogt said he did not.
* Sun-Times federal courts reporter Jon Seidel is in the courtroom this morning…
But Pugh is challenging the idea that Rita can testify to Madigan's state of mind. He compares it to one veteran judge in this building testifying to what was important to another judge.
He calls it "complete rank speculation."
— Jon Seidel (@SeidelContent) October 24, 2024
* More…
* WGN | ComEd exec testifies in Day 2 of Madigan corruption trial: Expected to take the stand Thursday is former State Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie) who resigned after accusations of sexual harassment emerged in 2018. The longtime representative from Illinois’ 16th District was allegedly pressured to resign by McLain even though Lang believed the accusations against him were false.
* Center Square | Witness testimony continues in corruption trial of former Illinois House Speaker: Former State Rep. Scott Drury, D-Highwood, returned to the stand for additional cross-examination Wednesday morning after beginning his testimony on Tuesday. Drury and Madigan defense attorney Todd Pugh had several combative exchanges over a variety of issues. U.S. government prosecutor Amarjeet Bhachu said the prosecution planned to call utility company executive Scott Vogt next, followed by former State Rep, Lou Lang, D-Skokie. Lang was on Madigan’s leadership team before stepping down in 2019 amid harassment allegations.
posted by Isabel Miller
Thursday, Oct 24, 24 @ 9:00 am
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““He controlled to a large degree what bills were going to make it to the floor…”
How is what Madigan did with the ComEd legislation any different that what he did for all of the other bills that passed in the House?
Comment by Huh? Thursday, Oct 24, 24 @ 9:25 am
=. Lang, once a ranking Democrat on Madigan’s leadership team, spent most of the day Wednesday waiting down the hall=
I’m betting that Lang’s testimony will be a big hit. It is no gamble that his words may hit the jackpot for the State. It would be a long shot that he helps the defense - but you never know he may crap out and offer nothing.
Comment by Donnie Elgin Thursday, Oct 24, 24 @ 9:56 am
My crystal ball says Madigan walks. SCOTUS has made it so you basically need a quid pro quo written contract to convict someone of corruption.
Comment by Friendly Bob Adams Thursday, Oct 24, 24 @ 9:58 am
So “200 secret calls” #`1 is the advice that Lang’s chasing allegations were a reason to adios the GA. Anyone wonder how this helps the “enterprise” claims?
Comment by Annonin' Thursday, Oct 24, 24 @ 10:28 am
==I’m betting that Lang’s testimony will be a big hit. ==
Donnie, I completely agree. Lou was always a staff favorite and remains very down to earth. He has total credibility. The jury will get that impression as well.
Comment by low level Thursday, Oct 24, 24 @ 10:46 am
So far, I don’t see anything beyond “reasonable doubt”. I thought they had some concrete evidence, but it looks like they are just trying to throw things against the wall and see what sticks.
Comment by Dupage Thursday, Oct 24, 24 @ 11:29 am
I see what you did there, Donnie. Will he be wearing the pinkie ring? I worked with Lang before and found him to be a very competent litigator and debater, with an agile mind and articulate manner of speaking. I think he’ll make a compelling witness.
Comment by Give Us Barabbas Thursday, Oct 24, 24 @ 11:33 am
===So far,…===
The prosecution began its case on Tuesday. They are laying ground work that Madigan controlled legislation, and that ComEd might have gone BK without getting its legislation passed.
Frankly I’m surprised by some of the comments here. Yes, this is not a slam dunk case by any stretch of the imagination, especially post-Snyder, but some of the comments make it appear that people have never experienced a federal criminal trial before.
Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Oct 24, 24 @ 11:35 am
Is Scott still mad about the clock?
Comment by Morty Thursday, Oct 24, 24 @ 12:07 pm
Not sure I understand the kind comments about Lou Lang.
He appeared to knowing look the other way while Madigan and his team participated in corrupt activity.
Hardly a model of good government behavior.
Comment by Back to the Future Thursday, Oct 24, 24 @ 12:50 pm
=but some of the comments make it appear that people have never experienced a federal criminal trial before.=
Agreed. It will play out over many months and could stretch into next year. Expecting to hear a bombshell on day 2 or 3 is unrealistic. And given the way Madigan ran things you might not hear much of anything at all. This will be a long excruciating process of connecting dots.
Comment by Pundent Thursday, Oct 24, 24 @ 12:56 pm
==He appeared to knowing look the other way while Madigan and his team participated in corrupt activity.==
Nowhere on the tapes or evidence does it indicate Lang knew anything about the arrangements made w ComEd or AT&T. That was all McClain and 6500 S Pulaski. Your assertion is ridiculous.
Comment by low level Thursday, Oct 24, 24 @ 2:15 pm
Like the fellow in the Maltese Falcon said about gambling, I am sure Lang would say he was shocked at the corruption going on in Springfield.
Comment by Back to the Future Thursday, Oct 24, 24 @ 2:42 pm
I guess Madigan controlled every Senator and the Governor also. It takes more than the house to make a bill into law
Comment by Fester Thursday, Oct 24, 24 @ 3:28 pm
- I guess Madigan controlled every Senator and the Governor also. It takes more than the house to make a bill into law -
That still doesn’t make it legal or ethical to take bribes for legislative influence. He may get away with it but that doesn’t make it right.
Comment by Excitable Boy Thursday, Oct 24, 24 @ 8:20 pm
- Like the fellow in the Maltese Falcon said about gambling -
That was Casablanca.
Comment by Excitable Boy Thursday, Oct 24, 24 @ 8:20 pm