Latest news with #ComEdFour
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lucky state auditor avoided audit of his (destroyed) records
Apr. 22—Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan is scheduled to be sentenced June 13 for his conviction on public corruption charges. The bribery trial of current Chicago state Sen. Emil Jones III continued Monday, with final arguments to the jury to be followed by deliberations and a verdict. The ComEd Four — three Commonwealth Edison lobbyists and a former CEO — will be sentenced someday soon, maybe, following their convictions for conspiring to bribe Madigan. So many corruption cases. It's hard to keep them all straight, especially with the passage of time. The calendar moves like lightning. Memories fade. Now who was that guy who was indicted or should have been way back when? The subject came up the other day when Patrick Pfingsten of The Illinoize reported that Frank Mautino, the state's auditor general, plans to retire within a year. An Illinois House member from Spring Valley, Mautino was appointed in 2016 by his fellow legislators to a 10-year term. That came after Mautino won former House Speaker Michael Madigan's support for the important, well-paying job. What does this have to do with Illinois' history of shady or questionable conduct by public officials? After Mautino became auditor general, the Edgar County Watchdogs flashed their sharp teeth and took a look at Mautino's campaign spending. When finished, they raised a question that was never definitively answered: What happened to nearly $500,000 in Mautino campaign funds? The watchdogs found roughly $250,000 in payments to Mautino's hometown Spring Valley bank. They found another $213,000 in expenditures between March 2005 and December 2015 that reportedly went for fuel and repairs at a service station owned by one of Mautino's friends and supporters. The Illinois State Board of Elections asked where the bank money went, because the expenditures were not payments to the bank. As for the vehicle expenses, the Illinois Supreme Court found they were made for vehicles "neither owned nor leased" by the Mautino campaign. Eyebrows were raised. One former legislator insisted Mautino explain himself because "the office of auditor general requires the highest ethical standards." The late Adam Andrzejewski, chairman of spending watchdog Open the Books, insisted Mautino must demonstrate his integrity or resign. Mautino did neither. He hired a lawyer, kept his mouth shut and waited for things to blow over. One reason why there were never any explanations is that Mautino's spending records had been destroyed. One of Mautino's constituents, David Cooke, a retired teacher from Streator, filed a formal complaint with the elections board that urged an in-depth investigation. Board members told Cooke he'd have to do the investigation himself. A volunteer lawyer from the Liberty Justice Center eventually took up Cooke's cause. The elections board — an eight-member panel divided evenly between Democrats and Republicans — dismissed the case. Then the appellate court reinstated it. Eventually, the board fined Mautino's campaign committee $5,000. Since the committee had been dissolved, there was no entity to pay the fine. It was, in the finest fashion of Illinois, a non-scandal scandal — lots of smoke, too little verifiable information. Where did the money go? Those who know never said. Those who didn't know had dark suspicions. The irony, of course, is that the auditor general's job that Mautino filled involved conducting oversight into how state government spends taxpayer dollars. The general's auditors track down illegal spending, unwise spending, inefficient spending. They identify wrongdoers and write reports intended for public consumption. Mautino proved to be the watchdog who was watched and found wanting. Now, as he plans his retirement, he's just another public official whose questionable escapades have faded away.
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Feds want Michael Madigan to forfeit millions following bribery, fraud convictions
The Brief Federal prosecutors are seeking $3,140,688.13 from former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan following his bribery and fraud convictions. Madigan, convicted on 10 counts last month, used his political influence to steer benefits to his allies and law firm. His sentencing date is set for June 13. CHICAGO - Federal prosecutors now want Michael Madigan to forfeit more than $3.1 million following his conviction on bribery, conspiracy, and wire fraud charges. The request comes after a jury found Madigan guilty on 10 counts in his high-profile corruption trial last month. What we know Prosecutors argue the forfeited money represents proceeds from Madigan's illicit dealings, including his influence over the state's largest utility, ComEd. The former House speaker, arguably the most powerful politician in Illinois at one point, was found guilty of using his position to enrich himself and his allies by securing jobs, contracts, and other financial benefits. Madigan, 82, has denied wrongdoing, maintaining that he was simply helping constituents and conducting legal work. Count 1: Racketeering conspiracy (w/McClain) - Operating an enterprise, conspiring to commit criminal acts; NO DECISION Count 2: Conspiracy - Bribery involving ComEd hiring (the ComEd Four); GUILTY Count 3: Bribery - Involving ComEd and former U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez; NOT GUILTY Count 4: Bribery - Payments from ComEd to former Chicago alderman Michael Zalewski; GUILTY Count 5: Travel Act - Interstate communication (Union West developers); GUILTY Count 6: Bribery - ComEd payments to former Chicago Alderman Frank Olivo and others; GUILTY Count 7: Travel Act - Interstate communication (2018); NOT GUILTY Count 8, 9, 10: Wire fraud -Former Alderman Daniel Solis and relatives; GUILTY ON ALL Count 11: Bribery - Solis, incoming Gov. JB Pritzker administration; NOT GUILTY Count 12: Travel Act - Interstate communications (old post office); GUILTY Count 13: Travel Act - Skydell, Prudential Building; GUILTY Count 14: Travel Act - Solis and ICC or Labor Relations Board, property tax law firm; GUILTY Count 15: Attempted extortion - Union West; NOT GUILTY Count 16: Travel Act - Union West, "quid pro quo"; NOT GUILTY Count 17: Travel Act - Union West, zoning approvals; NOT GUILTY Count 18: Travel Act - Union West, Madigan tells Solis not to say "quid pro quo"; NOT GUILTY Counts 19, 20: Wire Fraud (w/McClain) - Chinatown development; NO DECISION Count 21: Bribery (w/McClain) - Chinatown development; NO DECISION Count 22: Travel Act (w/McClain) - Chinatown, bill sponsor; NO DECISION Count 23: Conspiracy (w/McClain) – AT&T Illinois boss Paul la Schiazza, former State Rep. Eddie Acevedo; NO DECISION Dig deeper Despite skepticism, some experts said Madigan's conviction could inspire reforms. Former Chicago Alderman Dick Simpson, who has studied political corruption as a professor at UIC, believes the case may fuel efforts to strengthen state ethics laws. "State government is even behind Chicago in the ethics laws that it has. And the state legislature has been purposely blocking them for decades," Simpson said. In response to the conviction, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker said, "Today's partial conviction is an important message to anyone in government — or those thinking about public service — that if you choose corruption you will be found out, and you will be punished." What's next The judge in Madigan's case will decide whether the government can seize the $3.1 million as part of the former speaker's punishment. That decision will likely be made on June 9, just days before his scheduled sentencing on June 13. April 19, 1942: Michael Joseph Madigan is born in Chicago, Illinois. 1969: At age 27, Madigan is elected as the 13th Ward Democratic Committeeman, becoming the youngest ward committeeman in Chicago at the time. January 13, 1971: Madigan begins his tenure in the Illinois House of Representatives, representing the 27th District. 1977: He is appointed Majority Leader of the Illinois House. January 14, 1981 – January 12, 1983: Madigan serves as Minority Leader of the Illinois House of Representatives. 1983: Madigan becomes Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives, a position he holds until 1995. 1986: Madigan plays a key role in urging Adlai Stevenson III to enter the Democratic primary for Illinois governor. January 1995: Following a Republican majority win, Madigan serves as Minority Leader. January 1997: He regains the role of Speaker after Democrats reclaim the House majority. 1998: Madigan is elected Chair of the Democratic Party of Illinois. November 5, 2002: His daughter, Lisa Madigan, is elected as Illinois Attorney General. May 31, 2017: Madigan becomes the longest-serving state House Speaker in U.S. history. November 18, 2020: Four people, including Madigan associate Michael McClain, are indicted by a federal grand jury on charges they orchestrated a bribery scheme with Commonwealth Edison. January 11, 2021: Madigan suspends his campaign for another term as Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives after failing to secure enough support within his party. January 13, 2021: Madigan is succeeded by Chris Welch as Speaker of the Illinois House. February 18, 2021: Madigan resigns from the Illinois House of Representatives, ending his decades-long tenure. February 22, 2021: He steps down as Chair of the Democratic Party of Illinois. March 2, 2022: Madigan is indicted on federal racketeering and bribery charges, accused of leading a "criminal enterprise" to enhance his political power and financial well-being. October 14, 2022: AT&T agrees to pay a $23 million fine to resolve a federal criminal investigation into the company's efforts to unlawfully influence Madigan. May 2, 2023: The "ComEd Four" are convicted in a bribery scheme linked to Madigan, though he was not a defendant in this trial. February, 12, 2024: Tim Mapes, Madigan's former chief of staff, sentenced to 2.5 years in prison for perjury after lying to a grand jury about his knowledge of sexual harassment allegations against a colleague. October 9, 2024: Jury selection begins for Madigan's federal corruption trial in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. October 17, 2024: A full jury is seated after a thorough selection process. October 21, 2024: Opening statements are delivered in the trial. Prosecutors allege that Madigan exploited public trust by using his political influence to benefit utility companies in exchange for kickbacks and favors for his associates. November 15, 2024: Former Chicago Alderman Danny Solis testifies, revealing he cooperated with federal investigators and secretly recorded conversations with Madigan as part of the investigation. December 9, 2024: Solis concludes his testimony after 21 hours over six days. December 18, 2024: The prosecution rests its case after presenting evidence, including secretly recorded conversations and testimony from key witnesses. January 8, 2025: The defense begins presenting its case, calling its first witnesses. January 13, 2025: Madigan testifies in his own defense, denying any wrongdoing and emphasizing his commitment to his constituents. January 16, 2025: The defense rests its case after seven days of testimony. January 22, 2025: Closing arguments begin, with the prosecution presenting their case. January 28, 2025: Defense wraps up closing arguments, and the case is handed over to the jury. January 29, 2025: Jury deliberations begin in Madigan's federal corruption trial. February 12, 2025: Jury convicts Madigan on 10 counts, finds him not guilty on seven and deadlocks on six. June 9, 2025: Judge to make decision on Madigan's money forfeiture. June 13, 2025: Madigan is set to be sentenced. The Source The information in this article was obtained from federal court documents and previous FOX 32 reporting.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Afternoon Briefing: Yellow Banana gets six more months to complete city-funded grocery project
Good afternoon, Chicago. Chicago-area residents might feel like it's been a really long winter after enduring stretches of below-normal temperatures in January and February and a couple snowfalls in March. But the lingering cold snaps actually contributed to a proper winter — unlike the record highs and bitter but brief Arctic blasts of recent years. 'You look at the numbers — whether it be for Chicago, for Illinois, for the Great Lakes — and it was sort of an unremarkable winter,' said Trent Ford, the Illinois state climatologist. 'But it felt like it was intense because we're getting these types of winters, as far as temperatures are concerned, so much less frequently.' Here's what else is happening today. And remember, for the latest breaking news in Chicago, visit and sign up to get our alerts on all your devices. Subscribe to more newsletters | Asking Eric | Horoscopes | Puzzles & Games | Today in History The Elgin Fire Department found Karen Schepers' car in the Fox River three years ago, but believed it was an ATV and did not recover it, according to a statement released by city officials. Read more here. More top news stories: DOJ reviewing 'ComEd Four' bribery case, defense reveals in asking for sentencing delay Chicago Public Schools and teachers union close to contract deal after year of tough negotiations Nearly three years after the city first announced it would hand out $13.5 million in public dollars to grocery operator Yellow Banana, the company says it will soon drag the delay-beset grocery store rehab project across the finish line. Read more here. More top business stories: Europe lashes out over President Donald Trump auto tariffs and the economic threat to both continents FAA acknowledges it must do better after deadly DC air collision The White Sox open the season this afternoon against the Los Angeles Angels at Rate Field, but barring an eleventh-hour breakthrough, a million Chicago-area Comcast subscribers may not be able to see the game. Read more here. More top sports stories: Chicago Blackhawks takeaways: Landon Slaggert defends Connor Bedard – but Anders Sorensen doesn't defend him Column: Ashton Jeanty to the Chicago Bears? It's fun to imagine — even if it's only a possibility. The Lyrical Lemonade's Summer Smash Festival has announced its musical lineup for summer 2025. Headliners include Young Thug, Don Toliver, Yeat and Future, with Chance the Rapper also performing Sunday night. Read more here. More top Eat. Watch. Do. stories: Column: Clint Eastwood made a movie about soldier Ira Hayes, and the propaganda machine Lyric Opera receives $25 million, among its largest donations FBI Director Kash Patel was not part of a Signal chat in which other Trump administration national security officials discussed detailed attack plans, but that didn't spare him from being questioned by lawmakers this week about whether the nation's premier law enforcement agency would investigate. Read more here. More top stories from around the world: Department of Health and Human Services will cut 10,000 jobs as part of a major restructuring plan US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem visits Colombia to discuss immigration and crime
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
DOJ reviewing ‘ComEd Four' bribery case, defense reveals in asking for sentencing delay
The Department of Justice is reviewing the convictions in the landmark 'ComEd Four' bribery case involving former House Speaker Michael Madigan on counts involving violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which the Trump administration says has been stretched beyond its intended reach. The revelation, which further threatens to unwind what had been a slam-dunk victory for the U.S. attorney's office, came during a status hearing in the ComEd case on Thursday, where prosecutors asked to proceed to sentencing on the counts that U.S. District Judge Manish Shah left standing. Defense attorneys strongly objected, saying they received a letter recently from U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi's office saying the case was under review by the Department of Justice, which would make a decision whether the false statements counts charged under the FCPA should be dropped. The defense also said the Supreme Court's ruling last week in the case of former Chicago Ald. Patrick Daley Thompson gives them further ammunition to argue that the false statements counts should not stand. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Streicker, however, said they have no timetable on when the attorney general might weigh in and have 'received no guidance' on what the decision might be. 'We will follow whatever guidance we get,' she said. Streicker also said there was no basis to delay sentencing any further in this case, including over the issue of Thompson's case, which she said involves a different statute and has no bearing on the ComEd verdict. 'The defendants have had more than a full opportunity over the past two years to make post trial motions…It is now time for sentencing,' Streicker said. There is no basis to just delay sentencing based upon a hope that something might turn the defendant's way.' Shah agreed, saying he was satisfied that a proceeding to sentencing would finally bring the prosecution to a close and leave it in the hands of appellate courts. He said he wanted to sentence the four defendants separately sometime in July and asked the parties to consult their schedules and get back to him. Before the hearing adjourned, however, attorney Patrick Cotter, who represents longtime Madigan confidant Michael McClain, appeared to grow agitated, telling the judge that the defendants could find themselves sentenced on charges just before the Department of Justice rules should never have been brought in the first place. 'It seems to me, to be quite frank, reckless to proceed with sentencing,' Cotter said. 'It does affect the position of the defendants …I would ask you to consider waiting until we get a response.' But Shah denied the request without further argument. 'I don't agree it is reckless,' he said, adding that if something changes, he 'sure you'll tell me.' 'You have your lines of communication with the Department of Justice and I'm not doing anything to interfere with that,' Shah said. 'My view is that it's more important to proceed to conclusion than wait on uncertain and amorphous deliberations happening' in Washington. The ComEd Four defendants — McClain, former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore; internal ComEd lobbyist John Hooker; and consultant Jay Doherty — were convicted in May 2023 in an alleged scheme by the utility to funnel payments to Madigan-favored contractors in exchange for the longtime Democratic speaker's influence over legislation in Springfield. Earlier this month, Shah granted a new trial on some counts, saying the Supreme Court's ruling last year on a key bribery statute means the jury was not instructed properly. In making his ruling, however, Shah left intact the convictions on a number of other counts, including the lead count of conspiracy and charges alleging the defendants cooked ComEd's books to hide the scheme. Adding to the complexity was that four of the five counts that were left standing involve violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Last month, President Donald Trump ordered a review of how the Justice Department enforces that law, which he said has been 'stretched beyond proper bounds and abused in a manner that harms the interests of the United States.' In the ComEd Four case, the four defendants were convicted for falsifying books and records, not any bribery of foreign officials that the law originally sought to punish, the defense pointed out in asking Shah last month to stay the proceedings. Madigan, meanwhile, once the most powerful politician in the state, was found guilty on Feb. 12 of bribery conspiracy and other corruption charges alleging he used his public office to increase his power, line his own pockets and enrich a small circle of his most loyal associates. But neither prosecutors nor Madigan could declare total victory in that case either. Jurors' final verdict was overall mixed, deadlocking on several counts — including the marquee racketeering conspiracy charge — and acquitting Madigan on numerous others. Jurors also deadlocked on all six counts related to McClain, who was charged in both the Madigan and ComEd Four indictments. jmeisner@
Chicago Tribune
27-03-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
DOJ reviewing ‘ComEd Four' bribery case, defense reveals in asking for sentencing delay
The Department of Justice is reviewing the convictions in the landmark 'ComEd Four' bribery case involving former House Speaker Michael Madigan on counts involving violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which the Trump administration says has been stretched beyond its intended reach. The revelation, which further threatens to unwind what had been a slam-dunk victory for the U.S. attorney's office, came during a status hearing in the ComEd case on Thursday, where prosecutors asked to proceed to sentencing on the counts that U.S. District Judge Manish Shah left standing. Defense attorneys strongly objected, saying they received a letter recently from U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi's office saying the case was under review by the Department of Justice, which would make a decision whether the false statements counts charged under the FCPA should be dropped. The defense also said the Supreme Court's ruling last week in the case of former Chicago Ald. Patrick Daley Thompson gives them further ammunition to argue that the false statements counts should not stand. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Streicker, however, said they have no timetable on when the attorney general might weigh in and have 'received no guidance' on what the decision might be. 'We will follow whatever guidance we get,' she said. Streicker also said there was no basis to delay sentencing any further in this case, including over the issue of Thompson's case, which she said involves a different statute and has no bearing on the ComEd verdict. 'The defendants have had more than a full opportunity over the past two years to make post trial motions…It is now time for sentencing,' Streicker said. There is no basis to just delay sentencing based upon a hope that something might turn the defendant's way.' Shah agreed, saying he was satisfied that a proceeding to sentencing would finally bring the prosecution to a close and leave it in the hands of appellate courts. He said he wanted to sentence the four defendants separately sometime in July and asked the parties to consult their schedules and get back to him. Before the hearing adjourned, however, attorney Patrick Cotter, who represents longtime Madigan confidant Michael McClain, appeared to grow agitated, telling the judge that the defendants could find themselves sentenced on charges just before the Department of Justice rules should never have been brought in the first place. 'It seems to me, to be quite frank, reckless to proceed with sentencing,' Cotter said. 'It does affect the position of the defendants …I would ask you to consider waiting until we get a response.' But Shah denied the request without further argument. 'I don't agree it is reckless,' he said, adding that if something changes, he 'sure you'll tell me.' 'You have your lines of communication with the Department of Justice and I'm not doing anything to interfere with that,' Shah said. 'My view is that it's more important to proceed to conclusion than wait on uncertain and amorphous deliberations happening' in Washington. The ComEd Four defendants — McClain, former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore; internal ComEd lobbyist John Hooker; and consultant Jay Doherty — were convicted in May 2023 in an alleged scheme by the utility to funnel payments to Madigan-favored contractors in exchange for the longtime Democratic speaker's influence over legislation in Springfield. Earlier this month, Shah granted a new trial on some counts, saying the Supreme Court's ruling last year on a key bribery statute means the jury was not instructed properly. In making his ruling, however, Shah left intact the convictions on a number of other counts, including the lead count of conspiracy and charges alleging the defendants cooked ComEd's books to hide the scheme. Adding to the complexity was that four of the five counts that were left standing involve violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Last month, President Donald Trump ordered a review of how the Justice Department enforces that law, which he said has been 'stretched beyond proper bounds and abused in a manner that harms the interests of the United States.' In the ComEd Four case, the four defendants were convicted for falsifying books and records, not any bribery of foreign officials that the law originally sought to punish, the defense pointed out in asking Shah last month to stay the proceedings. Madigan, meanwhile, once the most powerful politician in the state, was found guilty on Feb. 12 of bribery conspiracy and other corruption charges alleging he used his public office to increase his power, line his own pockets and enrich a small circle of his most loyal associates. But neither prosecutors nor Madigan could declare total victory in that case either. Jurors' final verdict was overall mixed, deadlocking on several counts — including the marquee racketeering conspiracy charge — and acquitting Madigan on numerous others. Jurors also deadlocked on all six counts related to McClain, who was charged in both the Madigan and ComEd Four indictments.
