Illinois state Rep. Tony McCombie (R-Savanna) | repmccombie.com
Illinois state Rep. Tony McCombie (R-Savanna) | repmccombie.com
In a May 2 Facebook post, Illinois Rep. Tony McCombie (R-Savanna) issued a statement reacting to the verdict in the ComEd bribery trial.
“We have had an opportunity to tackle ethics in our statehouse for years,” she said in the statement. “This trial has been a costly seven week reminder of just what is wrong in state government. This guilty verdict has proven that the system of doing business in Springfield is broken. This should not have been the first step to rooting out corruption in Illinois, but after today, it is clear there must be a sense of urgency in bringing back the people’s trust in state government.”
The ComEd 4, as they are known, were accused of bribery and conspiracy and found guilty on all counts, an NBC Chicage 5 report said this week. The trial ended with a jury verdict on May 2 after five days of deliberation. All four defendants, "former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan confidant Michael McClain, former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore, former ComEd lobbyist John Hooker and former ComEd consultant Jay Doherty," pleaded not guilty to multiple charges, and all four were found guilty of all charges.
A separate NBC Chicago 5 report provided a detailed breakdown of the trial's outcome by outlining the charges against each defendant.
Pramaggiore was found guilty of one count of conspiracy, four counts of public corruption, and four counts of falsifying accounting books and other records. Hooker was convicted of conspiracy, one count of bribery, and four counts of falsifying accounting books and other records. Doherty was found guilty of a single count of conspiracy, one count of bribery, and four counts of falsifying accounting books and other records. McClain was convicted of conspiracy, four counts of bribery, and four counts of falsifying accounting books and other records.
McClain is also expected to face a separate racketeering trial.
The U.S. Department of Justice issued its indictment against Michael Madigan on March 2, claiming the former Illinois House Speaker used his political positions and influence to further the goals of a criminal organization and generate income for himself and his associates.
Madigan was charged with 22 counts of racketeering and bribery. The indictment alleges that he led a criminal enterprise for nearly ten years for the purpose of enhancing his political and financial power while also benefiting his associates and allies. The charges assert that Madigan used his various positions—including as a representative of Illinois' 22nd District, committeeman for Chicago's 13th Ward, chairman of both the Illinois Democratic Party and the 13th Ward Democratic Organization, and partner at the Chicago law firm of Madigan & Getzendanner—to further the objectives of a criminal organization. The indictment also claims that Madigan directed McClain, his close friend and co-defendant, to carry out illegal activities such as causing businesses like Commonwealth Edison to make monetary payments to Madigan's associates as a reward for their loyalty, sometimes in exchange for little or no legitimate work.
Madigan's trial has been scheduled for April 2024, a January Chicago Sun-Times report said. The trial is expected to last six to seven weeks and will be held at the Dirksen Federal Courthouse. It is being touted as the biggest public corruption trial since those of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich. The charges against Madigan and McClain were expanded in October to include allegations that they conspired with former AT&T Illinois President Paul La Schiazza to pay $22,500 to "former state Rep. Edward Acevedo amid an attempt to influence Madigan in favor of the company."
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