Wiretap: In pushing for Madigan-backed appointment, ex-ComEd CEO sought to ‘take good care’ of ‘our friend’
Despite internal pushback, a team effort pushed Juan Ochoa onto the ComEd board.
Madigan jury sees ‘Magic Lobbyist List’ seized from co-defendant during FBI search
The FBI found handwritten notes and email printouts prosecutors would later use to charge Mike McClain and Mike Madigan for running an alleged “criminal enterprise” for the benefit of those in the speaker’s inner circle.
In wake of Massey shooting, Sangamon County target of DOJ Investigation
The U.S. Department of Justice’s civil rights probe will investigate the sheriff’s department, but also Sangamon County Central Dispatch and the county itself.
Sean Grayson, who killed Sonya Massey, committed misconduct at prior jobs. Another one of his cases just got dropped
Former Sangamon County Sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson, who killed Sonya Massey, was accused of misconduct while employed at Central Illinois police departments. Some whose complaints were disregarded are speaking up about the harm that could have been prevented.
‘Make it a federal court suit’: Jurors hear wiretap of McClain describing subcontracts alleged to be bribes
In same call, co-defendant justified the contracts as necessary ‘because Mike Madigan came to us’
‘You agreed to wear wires against your ComEd family’: Star witness in Madigan trial grilled on cross-examination
Defense attorneys try to undercut Fidel Marquez’s credibility after gun purchase attempt CHICAGO – Before the sun rose on a cold Wednesday morning in January 2019, Fidel Marquez agreed to a life-altering assignment as a cooperating witness in a criminal case the government was building against his colleagues at electric utility Commonwealth Edison and powerful…
‘This is the way things are done in Illinois’: Defense attorneys begin cross-examining star witness
The former chief lobbyist for ComEd has spent the last week telling a federal jury how he bent over backward to accommodate hiring requests from Michael Madigan.
Jury sees relentless ComEd job placement requests from Madigan co-defendant
McClain to Madigan’s son: ‘That’s what happens when you’re in this game’
ComEd lobbyist warned FBI mole to ‘keep Madigan happy’ and not mess with no-work contracts
Jury in ex-speaker’s bribery trial sees undercover videos made by prosecutors’ star witness
‘They were being paid as a favor to Mike Madigan’: Feds’ star witness takes stand
Former ComEd exec-turned-FBI mole testifies about no-work contracts for speaker’s allies CHICAGO – As chief lobbyist for electric utility Commonwealth Edison, Fidel Marquez had an expansive role that put him in charge of “approximately 130, 135 people.” But in June 2013, more than a year into that job, Marquez received an email about someone he…
Wiretaps show McClain arranging checks for Madigan loyalist fired after #MeToo allegations
Defense attorneys seek to undermine evidence that speaker knew of arrangement CHICAGO – It had been a tumultuous winter and spring for Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan as he was forced to fire or distance himself from several top allies, three of whom were accused of sexual harassment at the height of the #MeToo movement….
One group of Illinoisans can’t vote this November – those serving felony convictions
DANVILLE — People in prison can vote in Vermont, Maine and Washington, D.C. It’s a right that one incarcerated Illinois man would like to have. “The incarcerated community is probably the largest group of people who have the most skin in the game, yet we’re not acknowledged as stakeholders,” Raúl Dorado said. About 29,000 people are…
Madigan co-defendant had unparalleled access to speaker, ex-top aide testifies
Jury hears another wiretap of Mike McClain referring to Madigan as ‘real client’ CHICAGO – Under the stained-glass dome of the Capitol in Springfield, lobbyists often wander the building, popping into a quiet corner to make a phone call or ducking into an empty committee room to send emails. Some veteran lobbyists have longstanding arrangements…
ComEd execs joked Madigan co-defendant was ‘double agent,’ utility’s former top lawyer testifies
Mike McClain’s job recommendations weren’t bribes – or even improper, witness says CHICAGO – For decades, electric utility Commonwealth Edison renewed its contract with top Springfield lobbyist Mike McClain – in part because of his strategic abilities, but also because of his close relationship with longtime Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. But it was…
Madigan co-defendant warned ComEd CEO not to ‘provoke a reaction from our Friend’
In ex-speaker’s trial, former utility exec calls Madigan’s apparent involvement in contract talks ‘unusual CHICAGO – Commonwealth Edison’s top attorney was busy preparing for the General Assembly to take up major legislation the utility had spent months negotiating when ComEd’s top in-house lobbyist stopped by his office in late October 2011. A little over 13…