Jury to return for Madigan corruption trial, Illinois appeals court judge’s testimony to continue

Judge John Robert Blakey held a charging conference for attorneys on Jan. 2, when prosecutors and defense teams discussed terminology used in the indictment.

The jury last appeared at the Dirksen Federal Building on Dec. 19, when Madigan’s attorneys called Illinois Court of Appeals Judge David Ellis to the witness stand.

Ellis served as Madigan’s attorney on three separate occasions, including as chief counsel to the president from 2006 to 2007 and as special counsel in Chicago from 2012 to 2014, when he was elected to his current position as an appeals court judge in the First District of Illinois. .

St. Xavier University professor David Parker noted that Ellis went from being Madigan’s attorney to becoming an appeals court judge in 2014.

“I saw that and I was like, ‘Hmmm, I wonder how that happened,’” Parker told The Center Square.

Ellis testified that Madigan essentially ran his campaign when he first ran for judicial office and that McClain donated to his campaign fund.

Before Ellis took the stand, Madigan’s attorneys called real estate developer Andrew Cretal and Madigan’s former assistant April Burgos to testify. Burgos said Madigan was “one of the kindest, most genuine people” he had ever met.

Madigan served in the Illinois House of Representatives from 1971 to 2021 and was speaker for all but two years between 1983 and 2021. He chaired the Illinois Democratic Party for 23 years.

McClain was a longtime lobbyist who previously served as a state representative in Illinois’ 48th district from 1973 to 1982.

Madigan and McClain have pleaded not guilty to 23 counts of bribery, extortion and official misconduct.

A federal indictment accused Madigan of leading a criminal enterprise whose purpose was to enhance Madigan’s political power and financial well-being while generating income for his political allies and associates. The indictment also alleges that Madigan directed McClain’s activities and that McClain carried out illegal activities at Madigan’s behest. Prosecutors allege that ComEd and AT&T Illinois gave no-work or low-work jobs and labor contracts to those loyal to Madigan in order to pass legislation that would benefit them in Springfield. Four ComEd executives and lobbyists were convicted last year in a related trial, and ComEd itself agreed to pay $200 million in fines as part of a deferred prosecution agreement with prosecutors.

State Rep.-elect Regan Deering, R-Decatur, said long-standing corruption in Illinois has real effects on everyday people.

“Taxes are higher in the country, prices go up, of course, and we are losing opportunities. It’s clearly a broken system,” Deering told The Center Square. “You know Illinois is a broken system. “It covers many levels.”

Deering was elected in November to represent Illinois House District 88, which includes parts of Macon, McLean, DeWitt and Piatt counties. He said elected officials have a responsibility to react to problems caused by corruption.

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“It’s high taxes, high prices, less public service, etc.,” Deering said, calling for transparency and accountability to replace the state’s current culture.

Deering and other members of the 104th Illinois General Assembly are scheduled to be sworn in Wednesday, Jan. 8, in Springfield.