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* Sun-Times…
An obscure but crucial figure in the feds’ years-long investigation of public corruption in Illinois pleaded guilty to an unrelated fraud scheme Friday, six years after he secretly recorded House Speaker Michael Madigan with hopes of future leniency from a judge.
See Y. Wong admitted he scammed a bank and pleaded guilty by video to wire fraud. He did so four months after a federal subpoena sent to Madigan’s office indicated Wong’s undercover work could still be relevant to the probe roiling state politics.
In that subpoena — delivered the day the feds charged ComEd in a bribery scheme that implicated Madigan — the feds sought documents related to Chinatown properties that appear to be part of the recorded conversation Wong had in August 2014 with Madigan and then-Ald. Daniel Solis (25th).
Madigan has not been criminally charged and has denied wrongdoing. Solis later helped the feds build a racketeering case against Ald. Edward M. Burke (14th), who was first criminally charged Jan. 2, 2019. Burke’s lawyers say Solis struck a so-called deferred-prosecution agreement with the feds the next day.
Federal prosecutors first charged Wong in March, days before the coronavirus pandemic took hold in Chicago and upended the federal court system. Their seven-page charging document, known as an information, first revealed the scam that apparently prompted Wong to cooperate. It revolved around the Canal Crossing condominium development in Chinatown.
*** UPDATE *** WBEZ…
Lawyers suing scandal-scarred Commonwealth Edison on behalf of the power company’s customers are accusing a consumer-advocacy group of serving as “ComEd’s lapdog,” court records show.
But the Citizens Utility Board says that is not fair — and CUB has now taken legal action itself to try to win back money for the roughly 4 million homes and businesses served by ComEd across northern Illinois.
State officials created CUB 37 years ago to act as an independent watchdog for customers of the power company and other state-regulated utilities.
Lawyers in a class-action suit in Cook County Circuit Court allege CUB instead is trying to shield ComEd, which has admitted to bribing Illinois politicians as it won electricity-rate increases and other lucrative legislation in Springfield during the past decade.
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Nov 13, 20 @ 2:25 pm
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I’ll read the Sun Times article shortly but do we know what is on this ’secret recording’ of the Speaker?
Comment by PraireState Sense Friday, Nov 13, 20 @ 2:28 pm
One of CUB’s lawyers is none other than Pat Quinn.
Comment by Southern Skeptic Friday, Nov 13, 20 @ 2:39 pm
The “secret” was a pitch for law business
The guilty plea relates to bank and consumer fraud that happened 4 years before the taped conversation.
The law suit means ComEd has not paid a dime in fines
Comment by Annonin' Friday, Nov 13, 20 @ 2:59 pm
==- PraireState Sense - Friday, Nov 13, 20 @ 2:28 pm:==
The Sun-Times has previously reported on what’s on the tape.
Comment by Precinct Captain Friday, Nov 13, 20 @ 3:39 pm