Author: Jim Talamonti | The Center Square contributor

(The Center Square) – Government attorneys are wrapping up their case with a focus on AT&T and former state Rep. Eddie Acevedo, D-Chicago, at the corruption trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and codefendant Michael McClain. Judge John Robert Blakey ruled Wednesday that Acevedo would be required to testify next Monday, despite questions…

(The Center Square) – A federal judge ruled Wednesday that former state Rep. Eddie Acevedo, D-Chicago, is required to testify at the public corruption trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and codefendant Michael McClain. Judge John Robert Blakey denied defense attorneys’ motion to quash Acevedo’s subpoena Wednesday morning. Blakey said the court considered…

(The Center Square) – Former Chicago Alderman Daniel Solis, now a cooperating witness for the federal government, has started testifying at the corruption trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and codefendant Michael McClain. Government attorney Diane MacArthur called Solis to the witness stand shortly after 4 p.m. Thursday. The 75-year-old Solis said that he…

(The Center Square) – A former precinct captain for former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan testified that he expected to get paid for services he did not render, as long as he continued doing campaign work for Madigan. In testimony Wednesday at the corruption trial of Madigan and codefendant Michael McClain, Ed Moody described how…

(The Center Square) – Former ComEd board member Juan Ochoa has completed his testimony at the bribery and racketeering trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, enters the federal court building in Chicago where he and codefendant Michael McClain face corruption charges.Jim Talamonti | The Center Square…

(The Center Square) – For the fifth time in the past four years, mourners have paid their respects to a fallen Chicago police officer. A funeral Mass was held Monday morning for 26-year-old Officer Enrique Martinez, who was killed in the line of duty Nov. 4 on Chicago’s South Side. The service at St. Rita…

(The Center Square) – Past and present Illinois politicians have figured prominently in wiretapped conversations introduced by prosecutors at the corruption trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and codefendant Michael McClain. At the Everett McKinley Dirksen U.S. Courthouse on Thursday, government attorneys called nine witnesses and introduced a series of documents, emails and…

(The Center Square) – Past and present Illinois politicians have figured prominently in wiretapped conversations introduced by prosecutors at the corruption trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and codefendant Michael McClain. At the Everett McKinley Dirksen U.S. Courthouse on Thursday, government attorneys called nine witnesses and introduced a series of documents, emails and…

(The Center Square) – The bribery and racketeering trial of former Illinois House Speaker and Democratic Party of Illinois Chairman Michael Madigan is set to resume Tuesday after a four-day weekend. The court was not in session Friday and the federal courthouse in Chicago is closed Monday for Veterans Day. Former ComEd executive and cooperating…

(The Center Square) – A former ComEd executive who agreed to wiretapped conversations has described inside deals between the utility company and Michael Madigan’s allies at the former Illinois House Speaker’s corruption trial. Fidel Marquez pleaded guilty to bribery in 2020. As part of a plea agreement, Marquez is cooperating with the U.S. government as…