Latest Post | Last 10 Posts | Archives
Previous Post: It’s just a bill
Next Post: Preckwinkle: ‘We have a system, unfortunately, that benefits [property] tax appeal lawyers’
Posted in:
* Sun-Times…
Convicted former state Rep. Edward “Eddie” Acevedo briefly took the witness stand Monday and contradicted prosecutors’ claim that he did no work for the thousands of dollars he was paid by two utilities allegedly trying to bribe former Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan.
But that apparently differed from what the onetime assistant majority leader previously told authorities and a grand jury. Acevedo told jurors Monday that he couldn’t remember his past comments. He also admitted he’d been prosecuted for tax evasion and wasn’t happy about it.
And he forgot his eyeglasses — a move that seemed to annoy U.S. District Judge John Blakey so much that he threatened Acevedo with contempt if he forgot them again Tuesday, when his testimony is expected to resume.
“I’ll buy him a pair of glasses and bring it myself,” Acevedo’s attorney, Gabrielle Sansonetti, assured the judge.
* Sun-Times federal courts reporter Jon Seidel…
Bhachu outlines Acevedo's immunity order.
Bhachu: "Pursuant to that order, you're here and you must testify, is that correct?"
Acevedo: "Yes."
— Jon Seidel (@SeidelContent) December 16, 2024
* Tribune…
Prosecutors allege Acevedo, 61, was paid a total of $142,500 by AT&T and ComEd after retiring from the Illinois House in 2017, even though he was not expected to do much of anything for the money.
But questioning on that topic turned quickly contentious Monday when Acevedo claimed he had in fact attended meetings on behalf of AT&T and even given oral reports to Stephen Selcke, a former AT&T governmental affairs executive, about his thoughts on how the Latino caucus came down on certain legislation.
“I told you, I went to hearings,” Acevedo said at one point during a tense back-and-forth with Bhachu. “I went to meetings and I was always telling Steve Selcke what was happening. … I would meet him at the rail. … He would always ask me how I thought the Latino legislators were going.”
Acevedo also claimed he and his sons, Alex and Michael, would have meetings “on the side” where they “were discussing the legislation that they were trying to push through.”
That prompted Bhachu to confront Acevedo with his previous statement before a federal grand jury where he said he’d actually done no work for the utility. After reading a part of his grand jury testimony, Acevedo acquiesced. “It says I said that, so I guess so,” he said.
Bhachu then asked about the payments Acevedo received indirectly from ComEd in 2017 and 2018.
“And ComEd never tasked you with any work assignments, did they?” Bhachu asked.
But Acevedo insisted the utility did. When Bhachu asked about an FBI interview in 2019 in which Acevedo apparently told agents that he was “never given work assignments from ComEd,” Acevedo said he didn’t remember.
Bhachu tried asking the same set of questions about the ComEd lobbyists through whom he was paid.
“You never did any work assignments for them,” he said.
“Whatever they asked me, I did,” Acevedo replied, again saying he didn’t remember when Bhachu reminded him of what he’d apparently told the FBI in 2019 about not having received any work assignments from the lobbyists.
During the 25 minutes or so Acevedo was on the stand Monday, Bhachu twice had to have the former lawmaker review his previous testimony. Acevedo said he couldn’t remember what he testified to in 2019.
Sansonetti previously said her client had dementia. However, the judge allowed Acevedo to testify. Blakey previously said he considered the entire record and pointed to the distinction between the credibility of the witness and competency to testify. He then instructed Acevedo to report to the courtroom Monday morning.
…Adding… The prosecution plans to rest their case later today…
JUST IN: After nine weeks of testimony and some 50 witnesses, prosecutors in the Madigan corruption trial say they plan to rest their case in chief after lunch today. https://t.co/NOw3DQ9GeG
— Jason Meisner (@jmetr22b) December 17, 2024
* More…
* Sun-Times | ‘Did you bring your glasses today sir?’ Testimony of ex-state Rep. Edward Acevedo gets testy: By reminding Acevedo of his failure to bring his glasses to court on Monday — which drew the ire of the judge — Bhachu set the tone for what would be a rapid-fire series of questions about Acevedo’s memory and how his testimony in Madigan’s trial differed from what he told a federal grand jury under oath two years ago. Acevedo, meanwhile, has been diagnosed with dementia and a brain tumor, and his testimony is sure to be framed by the defense as unreliable.
posted by Isabel Miller
Tuesday, Dec 17, 24 @ 10:38 am
Previous Post: It’s just a bill
Next Post: Preckwinkle: ‘We have a system, unfortunately, that benefits [property] tax appeal lawyers’
WordPress Mobile Edition available at alexking.org.
powered by WordPress.
Acevedo: Frank Pentangeli for memory, Donald Trump for eyesight.
Rita: This bears paying attention to … .
Comment by Anyone Remember Tuesday, Dec 17, 24 @ 10:43 am
Threatening to hold someone in contempt for not bringing their glasses to court seems extreme. Doesn’t seem like he has the best temperament for a judge
Comment by 0.0 Tuesday, Dec 17, 24 @ 11:09 am
Some odd witnesses from the prosecution. Drury, Rita, Acevedo. All seemed to hurt their case.
Comment by Timzilla Tuesday, Dec 17, 24 @ 12:34 pm
Acevedo proving yet again that he is a piece of garbage masquerading as a human being.
Comment by DougChicago Tuesday, Dec 17, 24 @ 12:47 pm
The key here is that the Jury has been told Acevedo was paid in excess of 142K as a Consultant. He can deny and not remember all he wants. The bottom line is that the Jury will make a Judgment just looking at this guy. I don’t think they will look highly on him.. and that’s a win for the Prosecution.
Comment by Ryder Tuesday, Dec 17, 24 @ 1:05 pm
@ Ryder the same way the jury will look at the cross of the FBI agent today who couldn’t remember if Solis failed to bring up to them he received 400k from Brian Hynes business for do nothing work.
Comment by sox11 Tuesday, Dec 17, 24 @ 1:30 pm
I’m thinking he had his glasses when he signed the back of the checks.
Comment by BoSox Tuesday, Dec 17, 24 @ 3:28 pm
==Acevedo proving yet again that he is a piece of garbage masquerading as a human being.==
Working with him was definitely not one of MJM’s finer moments
Comment by low level Tuesday, Dec 17, 24 @ 4:21 pm