The government concluded presenting its case against former House Speaker Michael Madigan at the Dirksen Federal Courthouse in Chicago. This happened shortly after the jury was selected.
The spotlight now turns to the defense teams of the former speaker and his co-defendant, Michael McClain, whose attorneys are up first.
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As the first witness for Madigan’s defense team, a former AT&T executive took the stand. It is believed that this witness’s testimony had a significant impact on a previous related trial that went against the government.
Mike Madigan trial live updates: Government rests, defense builds case in ex-speaker trial
Steve Selcke, the witness, expressed his opinion that a $20,000 consulting contract awarded to Eddie Acevedo, a friend of Madigan and former state Representative, in 2017, did not guarantee the Speaker’s support in passing crucial legislation. This contract coincided with AT&T’s efforts to push through legislation important to their interests at the time.
Acevedo wrapped up his testimony Tuesday.
Selcke’s testimony comes three months after the government called him as their star witness in the bribery case of former AT&T President Paul La Schiazza.
His testimony is largely seen to have backfired, and La Schiazza’s trial ended with a hung jury.
It took nearly nine weeks of testimony from some 50 witnesses to get to this point, including that of two government moles: former ComEd executive Fidel Marquez and former Alderman Danny Solis.
Both agreed to record dozens of their conversations, over the phone and in-person, with Madigan and McClain, as a way to get out of serving prison time for their own misdeeds, both related and independent of this case.
Neither Madigan nor McClain are expected to take the stand in their own defense.
Both men have pleaded not guilty to the bribery and racketeering charges against them.
They’re accused of leading a “criminal enterprise,” using the speaker’s official position to corruptly solicit and receive personal financial rewards for Madigan and his associates.
After this week, the jury will be off for the holidays, not returning until Jan. 2.
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