Chicago: After three long months, the trial of former Speaker Michael Madigan is nearing its end. Closing arguments are set to kick off on Wednesday, and it’s been quite the ride.
Before that, there’s a quick hearing about what the jurors need to know. This part can get a bit tricky, especially with recent Supreme Court rulings in play.
Originally, they planned a longer session on jury instructions, but it got pushed back. This might mean the lawyers found some common ground, which is a good sign.
When the jurors come back on Wednesday, Judge John Robert Blakey will go over the lengthy instructions, which could be over 100 pages. Then, the prosecutors will dive into their closing arguments.
These arguments are expected to stretch through the week, with jurors starting their deliberations on Monday. Madigan, who’s 82, and his co-defendant Michael McClain, 77, are facing serious charges.
They’re accused of running Madigan’s political operations like a criminal enterprise, all to boost their power and line their pockets. The indictment includes bribery claims involving ComEd and AT&T, plus allegations of pressuring developers to hire Madigan’s law firm.
This trial is the culmination of a major federal corruption probe that has already seen several of Madigan’s associates convicted. But Madigan is the big name here, the one everyone’s been watching.
The prosecution has laid out a mountain of evidence, including nearly 150 wiretapped calls and undercover videos. They’ve also had some key witnesses, like former ComEd executive Fidel Marquez and ex-Alderman Daniel Solis, who turned informant after getting caught up in his own scandals.
Madigan took the stand too, sharing stories from his strict upbringing and denying any wrongdoing. But the prosecutors had their chance to grill him, bringing up some of his comments from those wiretaps, including a moment where he joked about his associates making a lot of money.
This trial, which started with jury selection on October 8, has been a deep dive into Illinois politics and Madigan’s powerful machine. It hasn’t been all smooth sailing, though, with interruptions for legal arguments and holidays.
