Prosecutors and defense attorneys present their final cases in the trial of ex-Illinois Speaker Michael Madigan, accused of racketeering.
The judge, John Blakey, isn’t putting a time limit on the arguments, which could stretch over three days. It’s been a wild ride since the trial began in early October, and no one really knows how long it’ll take.
First up are the prosecutors, followed by Madigan’s lawyers, and then the team for his co-defendant, Michael McClain. The prosecutors have the burden of proof, so they’ll get the last word with a rebuttal.
After 11 weeks of testimony and over 60 witnesses, including Madigan himself, it’s finally coming to a head. Madigan testified for nearly 12 hours, while McClain chose to stay quiet.
Once the arguments wrap up, the judge will give the jury their final instructions. Then, they’ll start deliberating, which could take a while. In a related trial earlier this year, jurors took 27 hours over five days to reach a verdict.
This whole mess stems from an extensive FBI investigation that’s been going on for 11 years, leading to charges against about 20 people. Some have already been sentenced to prison.
Madigan and McClain are facing serious accusations of racketeering, with a hefty 117-page indictment outlining several schemes. The indictment claims Madigan led a criminal enterprise to boost his political power and reward his allies.
The schemes allegedly took place between 2011 and 2019, with accusations of bribery involving ComEd and AT&T Illinois. Prosecutors say five of Madigan’s allies were paid $1.3 million by ComEd over eight years for little to no work.
One of the more interesting parts involves ex-Alderman Danny Solis, who was caught up in the FBI’s investigation. He wore a wire after being confronted with evidence of his own wrongdoing.
Madigan’s defense team has been working hard to counter the prosecution’s narrative, bringing in 11 witnesses over seven days. They’re trying to show that Madigan isn’t the criminal mastermind the feds are painting him to be.
In a twist, Madigan distanced himself from McClain during questioning, saying he didn’t always trust him. He even admitted to having regrets about his relationship with Solis, saying he wished he hadn’t spent time with him.
It’s a tense situation, and everyone’s waiting to see how the jury will react to all this information. The stakes are high, and it’s a historic moment for Illinois politics.
