CHICAGO – As soon as the longest-serving legislative chief in U.S. historical past, Michael Madigan took the stand Tuesday at his personal corruption trial, a stunning transfer for a person as soon as thought of essentially the most highly effective politician in Illinois.
The previous Illinois Home speaker’s trial has lasted three months revealing meticulous particulars on the Chicago Democrat’s many alleged schemes in each his public roles and personal work as a tax lawyer. That has included hours of secretly-recorded videos and calls from a former alderman turned FBI mole.
However on Tuesday, Madigan, who’s famously personal, doesn’t have an electronic mail handle or personal a cellphone, took management of the narrative, telling deeply private tales about rising up in a troublesome family and residing what he described as a hardworking lifetime of public service.
“When individuals requested me for assist, if doable, I attempted to assist them,” stated Madigan, who wore a gray swimsuit and seemed straight at jurors as he spoke.
His protection lawyer requested a sequence of questions, together with whether or not he ever traded public workplace for personal achieve or accepted issues of worth in change for a promise to take official motion. Every time Madigan answered, “No.”
The 82-year-old’s uncommon resolution to testify stunned political observers.
As soon as phrase emerged that Madigan would take the stand Tuesday afternoon, seats within the courtroom and an overflow room for public viewing on the federal courthouse in downtown Chicago rapidly crammed up.
Madigan is charged in a 23-count indictment for crimes embrace bribery, racketeering and wire fraud. Prosecutors allege he exploited his affect not solely as speaker but additionally as head of the Democratic Get together of Illinois for private achieve and to amass much more energy. He additionally allegedly had personal tax work illegally steered to his legislation agency.
His alleged schemes embrace utilizing his affect to move laws favorable to electrical utility ComEd. In return, ComEd provided kickbacks, jobs and contracts to Madigan loyalists, prosecutors say.
Prosecutors have referred to as former aides, legislators, a congresswoman and enterprise leaders to the stand as an example Madigan’s energy and affect. Madigan set a lot of Illinois’ political agenda, deciding which items of laws would get a vote. He managed a number of political funds, permitting him to select candidates to run. He additionally oversaw political mapmaking, making certain boundaries favorable to Democrats.
However on the stand, Madigan, who resigned in 2021, hung out speaking about his first jobs working for town, together with on a rubbish truck. He described assembly his spouse and elevating children. One in all his youngsters, former Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, sat within the packed courtroom Tuesday.
Protection attorneys sought to humanize the speaker, calling him “Mike” throughout questioning.
Madigan described a hardscrabble life rising up within the middle-class Chicago neighborhood close to Halfway Worldwide Airport and informed tales about having an offended alcoholic father and having little say during which colleges he might attend or jobs he might work. The ambiance was removed from “nurturing” he stated.
“In that home my dad and mom by no means informed me that they liked me,” he stated. “They by no means embraced. They by no means hugged.”
Additionally Tuesday, Madigan started discussing his management as speaker, one thing protection attorneys are anticipated to select aside.
The trial, which started in October, is anticipated to final till late January.
Additionally standing trial with Madigan is longtime confidant Michael McClain who already has been discovered responsible in a separate, associated case. Final 12 months, federal jurors convicted McClain and three others of the bribery conspiracy involving ComEd.
A sweeping investigation of public corruption has already produced convictions of legislators and Madigan’s former chief of staff.
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