Former 25th Ward Alderman Danny Solis has already given his testimony, and now the focus of the recent testimonies has been on wrapping up loose ends regarding two schemes that former Speaker Mike Madigan was involved in.
One specifically involved his son, Andrew.
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On August 2, 2018, wearing a wire for the FBI, Solis went to Madigan & Getzendanner for a meeting with the speaker at his private law firm.
Under direction from investigators, Solis had asked Madigan for his help obtaining a position on a state board once he retired from City Council.
Once that conversation was over, Solis asked Madigan if there was anything more he could do for him.
Mike Madigan trial live updates: Testimony continues in ex-Illinois speaker trial
During the meeting, Madigan mentioned arranging a meeting for Andrew with the Resurrection Project, which Andrew followed up on but did not receive any return calls. Madigan then asked Solis to talk to Andrew and ensure that he is given something.
It took nearly two years, but the Pilsen-based non-profit Resurrection Project, which was was experiencing tremendous growth at the time, did give the then-speaker’s son something: their insurance business.
That was worth tens of thousands of dollars to him personally, according to testimony heard Wednesday, by a senior vice president at Alliant Insurance Services, where Madigan works.
On the stand Thursday, the Resurrection Project’s CEO Raul Raymundo testified to Solis’ role.
“He asked, ‘Can I set up a meeting so he could pitch his services, products to the Resurrection Project,'” Raymundo said.
The incident represents a small part of the criminal indictment against Michael Madigan.
But, with the government getting ready to wrap up their prosecution of the former speaker in the next week or so, it is one more example they are presenting to the jury of what they say was a years-long pattern and practice of Madigan using his position in Springfield to enrich himself and his associates.
The government Thursday also said they will call U.S Rep. Nikki Budzinski to the stand Monday morning.
The congresswoman is a former aide to Gov. JB Pritzker, who was on the receiving end of the speaker’s job recommendations early on in the new governor’s administration.
Madigan and co-defendant Mike McClain face bribery and racketeering charges.
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