Latest Post | Last 10 Posts | Archives
Previous Post: That toddlin’ town roundup
Next Post: Meanwhile, in Opposite Land…
Posted in:
* They never give up….
Further clarity from more cross-examination of FBI agent Ryan McDonald by McClain atty Pat Cotter:
Cotter: “Was Mr. Madigan part of the case in 2014?”
McDonald: “He was.” https://t.co/N8HOMBtmjX— Hannah Meisel (@hannahmeisel) March 20, 2023
* Meanwhile, this exchange is about TV ads that three of Cullerton’s candidates were running which touted their support for leadership term limits and specifically mentioned Madigan’s name. Madigan was furious…
McClain told Madigan in that call that, "you've got enough problems with the Kelly Cassidy and the #MeToo."
— Jon Seidel (@SeidelContent) March 20, 2023
Madigan tells McClain that his inclination is to call Cullerton and say "what's he's doing is inappropriate" and that his request is "that he pull the ad down." Madigan wants to ask: "Do you understand the position you put me in in terms of do I do something or do I do nothing?"
— Jason Meisner (@jmetr22b) March 20, 2023
From one of my reports to subscribers at the time…
At least three SDem candidates are explicitly touting “term limits for leaders like Mike Madigan” in their pitches to voters. Ann Gillespie reported a $211,900 contribution from the Senate Democratic Victory Fund last week and has apparently put that cash behind her new ad where she mentions “term limits for leaders like Mike Madigan” as she talks to the camera. Gillespie is running against Sen. Tom Rooney (R-Rolling Meadows) in a race the Democrats believe they can win.
Laura Ellman reported a $282,880 contribution from the SDVF last week and her own TV ad, which, like the others, position her as a problem solver. “I just can’t ignore something that’s broken,” she says in the ad while carrying a toolbox around her house. “So, when I look at Springfield, I have to try to fix it,” she says. She says she opposes pay raises for legislators and touts the “no budget, no pay” line that has suddenly become very popular among Democratic candidates and then uses the exact same “term limits for leaders like Mike Madigan” language as Gillespie. Ellman is running against Sen. Mike Connelly (R-Lisle), another Tier One target.
Bridget Fitzgerald hasn’t yet reported a large contribution from SDVF, but she’s also up with a new cable ad that says her Democratic mother and Republican father taught their five children to “compromise and work together.” Fitzgerald, who is running against Sen. John Curran (R-Downers Grove), talks about no pay raises, “no budget, no pay” and a property tax freeze, then says she supporters “term limits for leaders like Mike Madigan.” Times have certainly changed.
In the end, organized labor put the arm on Cullerton. No more Madigan ads were produced.
* And…
FBI Special Agent Ryan McDonald asked if Michael Madigan owns a cell phone: "I do not believe he does."
He also confirms for Cotter that yes, it's still legal not to own a cell phone.
— Jon Seidel (@SeidelContent) March 20, 2023
Prosecutors had earlier presented evidence showing Madigan used other peoples’ mobile phones to make calls.
*** UPDATE *** Durbin and Duckworth forward Sergio Acosta and April Perry’s names to Biden for US Attorney…
U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today recommended two individuals for the position of U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois to President Joe Biden for consideration. The two finalists are, in alphabetical order: Sergio Acosta and April Perry. […]
On January 19, the Senators announced that they would begin accepting applications from those interested in serving as U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. The Senators were assisted by a screening committee whose task was to review and vet candidates and advise the Senators regarding the candidates’ qualifications and fitness for the position. The panel was chaired by the Honorable David H. Coar (Ret.), and included Alejandro Caffarelli, Michael Chu, Kevin Conway, Herschella Conyers, Edward Feldman, Betty Y. Jang, Monica L. Llorente, Laurie Mikva, Carlina Tapia-Ruano, Zaldwaynaka (“Z”) Scott, and Diana White.
In sending two candidates to the White House for consideration, the next phase of the process will begin. The White House will now review the Senators’ recommendations. Until a nominee is confirmed by the Senate, Morris Pasqual will continue to serve as Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. […]
The individuals’ biographies are below:
Sergio Acosta is currently a partner at Akerman, LLP in Chicago, where he has practiced since 2018. Acosta previously served for a total of 18 years as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Northern District of Illinois, including serving as Chief of the General Crimes Section and as the Criminal Civil Rights Coordinator from 2003-2010. He has also served as an Assistant State Attorney in the Miami-Dade County State Attorney’s Office, as the Administrator of the Illinois Gaming Board, and as a partner at Hinshaw & Culbertson, LLP in Chicago. He received his B.A. from DePaul University and his J.D. from the George Washington University Law School.
April Perry is currently Senior Counsel for Global Investigations and Fraud and Abuse Prevention at GE Healthcare, based in Chicago. She previously served for 12 years as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Northern District of Illinois, including serving as the Project Safe Childhood and Violence Against Women Act Coordinator from 2010-2016 and as the Civil Rights and Hate Crimes Coordinator from 2014-2016. She also currently serves as a Hearing Officer for the Chicago Police Board, and she has previously served as the Chief Deputy State’s Attorney and Chief Ethics Officer for the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office and as the General Counsel for Ubiety Technologies Inc. She received her B.S. and her J.D. from Northwestern University, and she clerked for Judge Joel Flaum on the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Mar 20, 23 @ 12:41 pm
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
Previous Post: That toddlin’ town roundup
Next Post: Meanwhile, in Opposite Land…
WordPress Mobile Edition available at alexking.org.
powered by WordPress.
For an investigation to last over 8 years, one really has to wonder about the strength of the case and what they actually found to be a crime.
Comment by Huh? Monday, Mar 20, 23 @ 12:45 pm
I always find the outrage Madigan had towards Cullerton over this to be slightly hilarious.
I wish I had enough fingers and toes to count the number of times House and Senate D staff were “coordinating” races with candidates in the filed, only to see Senate Dem plusses removed from the GOP walk lists or left off the palm cards.
Loyalty is a one way street with this crew. It has always been thus.
Comment by SpiDem Monday, Mar 20, 23 @ 12:51 pm
Above should read GOTV, not GOP
Comment by SpiDem Monday, Mar 20, 23 @ 12:53 pm
==For an investigation to last over 8 years, one really has to wonder about the strength of the case and what they actually found to be a crime.==
On the other side of that, one could argue that they must to have some really compelling evidence to finally indict after 8 years.
Comment by twowaystreet Monday, Mar 20, 23 @ 12:55 pm
===Loyalty is a one way street with this crew.===
If ya’ ain’t felonying with ‘em, you’re against ‘em.
Comment by Candy Dogood Monday, Mar 20, 23 @ 12:57 pm
Amusing that Senate Des ads calling for leadership term limits angered Madigan. Maybe that explains why the Speaker froze out Tom Dart when he wanted to run statewide - Dart sponsored that bill as far back as 1995 - ha ha
Comment by This and That Monday, Mar 20, 23 @ 1:04 pm
“If ya’ ain’t felonying with ‘em, you’re against ‘em”
Great summary by Candy Dogood.
Comment by back to the Future Monday, Mar 20, 23 @ 1:10 pm
Let’s all say it together… Bruce Rauner was right.
Comment by Oh Boy Monday, Mar 20, 23 @ 1:10 pm
Oops, wrong thread. Sorry.
Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Mar 20, 23 @ 1:12 pm
=== Bruce Rauner was right.===
Huh?
It’s either speculation or Rauner was tipped?
Madigan was already doing the “Paulie Cicero” routine using other phones or having someone else make calls for him, sometimes being paranoid can also mean “they” are after you as well.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 20, 23 @ 1:13 pm
“… the Speaker froze out Tom Dart when he wanted to run statewide … .”
He ran for State Treasurer in 2002, was the only statewide Democrat to lose … he lost to JBT. Hmmm …
And he was only one of a few to go from the Senate to the House (in 1992, he was appointed to replace Sen. Jeremiah Joyce, who resigned after the Primary - remember in Appropriation Committee him being introduced by Howie Carroll).
Comment by Anyone Remember Monday, Mar 20, 23 @ 1:18 pm
Rauner thought the bill was so nice he signed it twice
Comment by Rabid Monday, Mar 20, 23 @ 1:18 pm
=== Loyalty is a one way street with this crew.===
=== If ya’ ain’t felonying with ‘em, you’re against ‘em ===
So now you are saying that everyone that worked with Madigan was committing felonies? You are so pathetic.
Comment by Hannibal Lecter Monday, Mar 20, 23 @ 1:21 pm
With 8 years of goods (recordings) by the Federales, I doubt Madigan and the Fab 4 can survive. The Feds must have their case air-tight with the t’s crossed as it deals with Madigan. Hearing these recordings in court will be the beginning of the end ~though MJM’s case will be tried in ‘24.
Comment by Pizza Man Monday, Mar 20, 23 @ 1:27 pm
well, if anyone was tipped off it was Lisa Madigan. Miss her work.
Comment by Amalia Monday, Mar 20, 23 @ 1:42 pm
Worth noting that in Kathleen Willis’ successful race against Skip Saviano, a PAC tied to Madigan helped Willis run *against* Madigan by circulating mailers tying Saviano to the speaker: “A vote for Skip Saviano is a vote for Mike Madigan!”
But when Cullerton recognized the political utility and did the same, it was a bridge too far?
Comment by Bud's Bar Stool Monday, Mar 20, 23 @ 1:47 pm
So I guess it’s not true Madigan was waiting for Samsung to come out with a cell phone that had a rotary dial. /s
Really though, if you don’t have a cell phone because you’re worried about it being tapped, does that say something about the nature of your conversations?
Maybe. Or maybe not.
Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Monday, Mar 20, 23 @ 1:48 pm
@Anyone Remember, well it’s been just over 3 years since we learned that JBT was an FBI informant….
Comment by Amalia Monday, Mar 20, 23 @ 1:53 pm
Amalia — link?
Comment by card Monday, Mar 20, 23 @ 2:14 pm
@Card, Sun Times had a story up, Feb. 2020.
Comment by Amalia Monday, Mar 20, 23 @ 2:22 pm
Card, I do remember she was an informant. Don’t remember if it started when she was a reporter.
Comment by Anyone Remember Monday, Mar 20, 23 @ 3:27 pm
==Bruce Rauner was right.==.
No, not even close. Thanks for playing, however.
Comment by low level Monday, Mar 20, 23 @ 3:48 pm
JBT link here https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/2/14/21125248/judy-baar-topinka-corruption-secret-investigations-fbi-files
Comment by dr. jimmy Monday, Mar 20, 23 @ 3:53 pm
So JBT was telling the FBI about DuPage corruption? Well at least someone was.
Comment by low level Monday, Mar 20, 23 @ 4:43 pm
Rauner was wrong about five things…and nearly everything else…too.
Madigan made His own bed…but not alone.
Comment by Dotnonymous Monday, Mar 20, 23 @ 6:54 pm