After 30 days of testimony over three months, prosecutors rested their case in chief Wednesday in the blockbuster public corruption trial of Michael Madigan, formerly the immensely powerful speaker of the Illinois House and leader of the state Democratic Party.
Prosecutors presented about 150 wiretapped calls and undercover video recordings in the case against Madigan and his co-defendant, ex-lobbyist Michael McClain.
And the government put more than 50 witnesses on the stand, including two men who wore wires for the FBI: former ComEd executive Fidel Marquez and, perhaps most memorably, ex-alderman Daniel Solis.
The case now turns to the defense, which has a chance to present its own evidence. They are likely to call far fewer witnesses than the prosecution, and evidence could wrap up entirely as early as Thursday even with an expected rebuttal witness from the government.
The defense has previously indicated they may call to the stand former AT&T insider Stephen Selcke. Selcke was initially on the prosecution witness list, but prosecutors announced they would not have him testify after all.
The defense later indicated they would call him. It is not hard to see why: Selcke testified in a previous Madigan-adjacent trial that he did not believe the company intended an act of bribery when, at McClain’s request, they agreed to pay ex-Rep. Edward Acevedo a $2500 monthly contract for little or no work.
Madigan, 82, of Chicago, who served for decades as speaker of the Illinois House and the head of the state Democratic Party, faces racketeering charges alleging he ran his state and political operations like a criminal enterprise.
He is charged alongside his longtime confidant McClain, 77, a former ComEd contract lobbyist from downstate Quincy. Both men have pleaded not guilty and denied wrongdoing.
jmeisner@chicagotribune.com
mcrepeau@chicagotribune.com
