Corruption trial of longtime Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan begins

Federal prosecutors and defense lawyers concluded a protracted jury selection process Monday afternoon, marking the start of opening comments in former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan’s federal corruption trial. Twelve jurors and six alternates were chosen over the course of more than two weeks by the two sides, with the last alternate being chosen early Monday afternoon.

Opening remarks and preliminary jury instructions are scheduled to start at 1:15 p.m. on Monday, according to U.S. District Judge Robert Blakey. Attorneys for Madigan and his co-defendant have estimated that they will require one hour each for their opening statements, while prosecutors have requested two hours. Federal prosecutors and defense lawyers concluded a protracted jury selection process Monday afternoon, marking the start of opening comments in former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan’s federal corruption trial.

The 117-page, 23-count indictment against Madigan, 82, and his codefendant and lifelong friend, lobbyist Michael McClain, accuses them of wire fraud, bribery, conspiracy, and racketeering. If found guilty, the majority of the counts carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in jail. Madigan was sitting in the front row of the gallery in the courtroom with his wife and children when the opening statements started.

Sarah Streicker, an assistant U.S. attorney, began by stating, “This is a case about corruption at the highest level.” Madigan has been charged by federal prosecutors with a nearly ten-year plan to leverage his political influence for personal benefit. In a bribery plot involving several companies, including ComEd, Madigan and McClain are charged with paying Madigan’s allies in exchange for their allegiance.

In order to set up no-show jobs for his political staff and provide personal advantages for himself and his legal practice, prosecutors claimed Madigan utilized his numerous political posts as part of a long-term plot. Rather than the facts they intend to present, Madigan’s defense lawyers concentrated on his legacy. Prosecutors, they said, will base their case “on untrustworthy sources” and “they’re going to build their case on former representatives that had an axe to grind.”

“They gave the jury the highlights of what’s coming in these audio tapes and the reason they want to do that is because the defense is gonna tell the jury they can’t believe these flippers,” Miller stated. However, the prosecution is arguing that you don’t have to accept their story. It’s captured on video. Miller stated that the defense of Madigan aimed to use a “aggressive approach.”

“They weren’t just gonna lay back in the weeds and take it from the government,” he stated. In an attempt to provide a modicum of reasonable doubt, they intended to give these jurors something to ponder. The defense only needs to claim that these flippers were operating independently in order for the evidence to support their claim.

All the defense needs to do is claim that these flippers were acting independently, prove that Mike Madigan is a good man, and demonstrate that he was not involved in any of these schemes.” Defense lawyers are anticipated to contend that the defendants did nothing wrong and accuse prosecutors of attempting to criminalize lawful political acts, as Madigan and McClain have entered not guilty pleas to all charges. Before all sides start presenting evidence to the jury on Tuesday, McClain’s attorneys will make their opening statements. Eleven weeks are anticipated for the trial in the Dirksen Federal Courthouse in the Loop.