Ex-Illinois Speaker Madigan jury has resumed deliberations in Madigan trial, turning attention to ComEd allegations

Jason Meisner, Megan Crepeau and Ray Long, Chicago Tribune on Feb 3, 2025

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CHICAGO — Jurors deliberating in the trial of Michael Madigan on Monday asked a question about evidence related to a ComEd board seat, signaling that they are considering the wide-ranging ComEd allegations in their fourth day of discussions.

Just after 1 p.m., U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey called attorneys into his courtroom to read the jurors’ note. They asked for help locating an exhibit in which Michael McClain, Madigan’s co-defendant, discusses a potential ComEd board appointment for Juan Ochoa.

Prosecutors allege Madigan illegally schemed to get Ochoa – a former political nemesis – appointed to the board in order to appease former U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez and his Latino base.

“We recall a conversation between (former ComEd boss) Anne Pramaggiore and Mike McClain … where she offers to McClain an alternate position to the Ochoa board appointment. Can you help us find the exhibit number?”

After some discussion, attorneys agreed it would be appropriate for the judge to tell jurors to rely on their collective memories.

Jurors returned to the courthouse Monday after starting deliberations Wednesday afternoon. In total, last week they deliberated for about 14 hours.

The alleged Ochoa board seat scheme is Count 3 of the 23-count indictment. If jurors are discussing each charge in order, Monday’s note could signal that they are still far from reaching decisions on all of the counts.

Madigan, who spent decades as the speaker of the state House and ruled the Illinois Democratic caucus with a tight grip, is charged with a racketeering indictment accusing him of running his political and government operations like a criminal enterprise. Charged alongside him is McClain, a former lobbyist who was Madigan’s right-hand man.

Last week, jurors’ only communication was about scheduling — and office supplies. Shortly before noon Thursday, they sent a note to the judge asking for more highlighters, sticky notes and white-out.

That followed requests on Wednesday for “more pens and highlighters and tape” as well as “at least five more copies of the indictment.”

“Apparently there is some kind of arts and crafts going on back there,” U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey quipped after reading the Thursday note. When another message from the jurors arrived later in the day, the judge joked that it would be a red flag only “if they start asking for pipe cleaners and macaroni.”

Jurors have to consider 23 counts against Madigan alleging an array of schemes to enrich his political allies and line his pockets. McClain is charged in six of those counts.

To assist their deliberations, jurors have about 100 pages of legal instructions, dozens of undercover recordings, and hundreds of emails, texts and other documents entered into evidence.

Madigan, 82, of Chicago’s Southwest Side, was for decades the most powerful man in Illinois politics, reigning over the state Democratic party and setting a national record for longest-serving speaker of a state house. His co-defendant, Michael McClain, 77, is a retired lobbyist from downstate Quincy who acted as Madigan’s right-hand man.

In addition to alleging plans to pressure developers into hiring Madigan’s law firm, the indictment accuses Madigan and McClain of bribery schemes involving ComEd and AT&T Illinois, where the utilities allegedly funneled payments through do-nothing subcontracts to a handful of the speaker’s closest allies.

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