{"id":2386667,"date":"2025-01-05T17:08:59","date_gmt":"2025-01-05T22:08:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/jury-to-return-for-madigan-corruption-trial-and-continued-illinois-appeals-court-judge-testimony-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-01-05T17:09:59","modified_gmt":"2025-01-05T22:09:59","slug":"jury-to-return-for-madigan-corruption-trial-and-continued-illinois-appeals-court-judge-testimony-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/jury-to-return-for-madigan-corruption-trial-and-continued-illinois-appeals-court-judge-testimony-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Jury to return for Madigan corruption trial and continued Illinois appeals court judge testimony &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">34<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fjury-to-return-for-madigan-corruption-trial-and-continued-illinois-appeals-court-judge-testimony-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2386667&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The corruption trial of former \u200bIllinois\u2064 House Speaker Michael Madigan and his codefendant, Michael McClain, is\u2062 currently\u2064 underway in Chicago. The jury\u2063 is scheduled to return after a \u200cbreak of 18\u2062 days for the holidays. The proceedings \u2062have \u2064focused on various testimonies, including\u200b that of Illinois Appellate Court Justice David Ellis, who was called to the stand by Madigan&#8217;s \u2063defense\u200c team.At a recent charge\u2062 conference, judge John Robert Blakey facilitated \u200cdiscussions between the prosecution and defense regarding the terminology used in the indictment. The\u2063 trial \u200bhas been marked by \u2062important allegations\u2063 of\u200d <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">corruption involving high-level state government operations<\/a>, \u2064as highlighted by Assistant \u2064US Attorney \u2064Sarah E. \u200bStreicker during opening statements. The\u2064 prosecution is expected to \u200drest its case soon, after presenting \u2062evidence related\u2063 to nearly 100 \u2062individuals that Madigan recommended throughout his tenure. The trial reflects broader issues of political corruption within illinois state\u2062 governance.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Jury to return for Madigan corruption trial and continued Illinois appeals court judge testimony<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1928173\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>(The Center Square) &ndash; Jurors are scheduled to return from an 18-day holiday break on Monday at the corruption trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and codefendant Michael McClain in Chicago.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Judge John Robert Blakey held a charge conference for attorneys on Jan. 2, when prosecutors and the defense teams discussed terminology used in the indictment.<\/p>\n<p>The jury last reported to the Dirksen Federal Building on Dec. 19, when Madigan&rsquo;s attorneys called Illinois Appellate Court Justice David Ellis to the witness stand.<\/p>\n<p>Ellis served as counsel to Madigan three separate times, including as chief counsel to the speaker from 2006-2007 and as special counsel in Chicago from 2012-2014, when he was elected to his current position as an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/chicago-to-drop-most-vaccine-proof-mask-mandates-but-not-for-schools\/\" title=\"Chicago To Drop Most Vaccine Proof, Mask Mandates \u2014 But Not For Schools\">appellate court justice<\/a> in Illinois&rsquo; First District.<\/p>\n<p>St. Xavier University Professor David Parker observed that Ellis went from being Madigan&rsquo;s counsel to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-judicial-nominee-serves-on-board-of-prison-abolitionist-group\/\" title=\"Biden Judicial Nominee Serves on Board of &quot;Prison Abolitionist&quot; Group\">appeals court bench<\/a> in 2014.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I saw that and I&rsquo;m like, &lsquo;Hmmm, I wonder how that happened&rsquo;,&rdquo; Parker told The Center Square.<\/p>\n<p>Ellis testified that Madigan basically ran his campaign when he first ran for judicial office and that McClain donated to his campaign fund.<\/p>\n<p>Before Ellis took the stand, Madigan&rsquo;s attorneys called real estate developer Andrew Cretal and former Madigan aide April Burgos to testify. Burgos said Madigan was &ldquo;one of the nicest, most genuine people&rdquo; she had ever met in her life.<\/p>\n<p>Madigan served in the Illinois House from 1971 to 2021 and was speaker for all but two years between 1983 and 2021. He chaired the Democratic Party of Illinois for 23 years.<\/p>\n<p>McClain was a longtime lobbyist who previously served as a state representative in Illinois&rsquo; 48th district from 1973 to 1982.<\/p>\n<p>Madigan and McClain have pleaded not guilty to 23 counts of bribery, racketeering and official misconduct.<\/p>\n<p>A federal indictment accused Madigan of leading a criminal enterprise whose purpose was to enhance Madigan&rsquo;s political power and financial well-being while also generating income for his political allies and associates. The indictment also alleged that Madigan directed McClain&rsquo;s activities and that McClain carried out illegal activities at Madigan&rsquo;s behest. Prosecutors allege that ComEd and AT&amp;T Illinois gave out no-work or little-work jobs and contract work to those loyal to Madigan to get legislation passed 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.<\/p>\n<p>State Representative-elect Regan Deering, R-Decatur, said longtime corruption in Illinois has real effects for everyday people.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The highest taxes in the nation, rising prices, of course, and we&rsquo;re losing opportunities. It&rsquo;s clearly a broken system,&rdquo; Deering told The Center Square. &ldquo;You know Illinois is a broken system. It covers so many levels.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Deering was elected in November to represent Illinois 88th House District, which includes parts of Macon, McLean, DeWitt and Piatt counties. She said elected officials have a responsibility to react to the problems caused by corruption.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s high taxes, it&rsquo;s high prices, it&rsquo;s less public service, etcetera,&rdquo; Deering said, calling for transparency and accountability to replace the state&rsquo;s current culture.<\/p>\n<p>Deering and other members of the Illinois&rsquo; 104th General Assembly are scheduled to be sworn in Wednesday, Jan. 8, in Springfield.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1928173\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1928173\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Jury resumes Madigan corruption trial after holiday break<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2386668,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/AP22061777913472-1024x683.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[40896,47956,40895],"class_list":["post-2386667","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-corruption-trial","tag-illinois-appeals-court","tag-madigan"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/AP22061777913472-1024x683.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2386667","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2386667"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2386667\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2386671,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2386667\/revisions\/2386671"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2386668"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2386667"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2386667"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2386667"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}