Latest Post | Last 10 Posts | Archives
Previous Post: *** UPDATED x1 *** Madigan indictment react
Next Post: “The 19″ release statement on Madigan indictment
Posted in:
* Click here and I’ll update in a moment.
* Quick summary…
The illegal activities committed by members and associates of the Madigan Enterprise included, but were not limited to: (a) soliciting and receiving bribes and unlawful personal financial advantage from persons and parties having business with the State of Illinois and the City of Chicago, or otherwise subject to the authority and powers vested in MADIGAN and other public officials acting on MADIGAN’s behalf; (b) using MADIGAN’s powers as Speaker, including his ability to affect the progress of bills in the House of Representatives, as well as his control over the resources of the Office of the Speaker, including its staff, in order to cause third parties to financially reward MADIGAN, his political allies, political workers, and associates; (c) using threats, intimidation, and extortion to solicit benefits from private parties; and (d) using facilities of interstate commerce to coordinate, plan, and further the goals of the enterprise. In order to carry out its activities, the enterprise utilized individuals employed by and associated with it who had varying roles and responsibilities. […]
MADIGAN was the leader of the enterprise, and used these positions to oversee, direct, and guide certain of the enterprise’s illegal activities. Among other things, MADIGAN utilized his official positions as a Representative and Speaker: (i) to cause various businesses to employ, contract with, and make direct and indirect monetary payments to MADIGAN’s political allies, political workers, and associates as a reward for and to promote their loyalty, association with, and work for MADIGAN, at times in return for little or no legitimate work performed for the benefit of the businesses; and (ii) to solicit and receive from persons and parties having business with the State of Illinois and the City of Chicago, or otherwise subject to the authority and powers vested in MADIGAN and other public officials acting on MADIGAN’s behalf, including Alderman A, bribes and unlawful personal financial advantage, including but not limited to fees arising from the retention of his law firm, Madigan & Getzendanner. MADIGAN utilized his positions as Democratic Committeeman for the Thirteenth Ward and Chairman of the Thirteenth Ward Democratic Organization to direct the activities of his political allies and political workers within the Thirteenth Ward, and to maintain his political power for purposes of ensuring his continued retention of his positions as a member of the Illinois House of Representatives and Speaker. MADIGAN utilized his position as Chairman of the Democratic Party of Illinois to influence and garner loyalty from legislators by providing or withholding staff and funding to legislators and their campaigns. MADIGAN utilized his position as a partner in Madigan & Getzendanner to reap the benefits of private legal work unlawfully steered to his law firm. MADIGAN directed the activities of his close friend and associate, McCLAIN, who carried out illegal activity at MADIGAN’s direction.
Ald. A is former Chicago Ald. Danny Solis, who was cooperating with the G and wearing a wire. McClain is, of course, Mike McClain. The feds are getting both McClain and Madigan on “racketeering conspiracy and individual counts of using interstate facilities in aid of bribery, wire fraud, and attempted extortion.”
* This may be where the IRS comes into play…
It was further part of the conspiracy that documentation would be and was prepared to make it falsely appear that certain payments made for the purpose of bribing MADIGAN were made solely for legitimate commercial purposes.
* More…
It was further part of the conspiracy that the conspirators would and did use coded language in their discussions and used coded references for purposes of discussing fellow conspirators.
It was further part of the conspiracy that the conspirators would and did meet in person and use third parties’ cellular and private telephones in order to reduce law enforcement’s ability to intercept their communications.
* Count Two…
Beginning no later than in or around 2011, and continuing through in or around 2019, in the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, and elsewhere, MICHAEL J. MADIGAN, defendant herein, did conspire with Michael F. McClain, Anne Pramaggiore, John Hooker, Jay Doherty, Fidel Marquez, and others known and unknown to the Grand Jury:
a. to corruptly solicit and demand, and to accept and agree to accept from another person things of value, namely, jobs, contracts, and monetary payments associated with those jobs and contracts, for the benefit of MADIGAN and his associates, intending that MADIGAN, an agent of the State of Illinois, be influenced and rewarded in connection with any business, transaction, and series of transactions of the State of Illinois involving things of value of $5,000 or more, namely, legislation affecting ComEd and its business, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 666(a)(1)(B);
b. to corruptly give, offer, and agree to give things of value, namely, jobs, contracts, and monetary payments associated with those jobs and contracts, for the benefit of MADIGAN and his associates, with intent to influence and reward MADIGAN, as an agent of the State of Illinois, in connection with any business, transaction, and series of transactions of the State of Illinois involving things of value of $5,000 or more, namely, legislation affecting ComEd and its business, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 666(a)(2); and
c. knowingly and willfully to circumvent a system of internal accounting controls and to falsify any book, record, and account of Exelon and ComEd, in violation of Title 15, United States Code, Sections 78m(b)(5) and 78ff(a).
A lot of what follows in this count (interns, ghost jobs, board appointments, etc.) is already know, but the prosecutors are now tying everything to Madigan.
* From Count Eight…
It was part of the scheme that MADIGAN agreed to accept business steered by Alderman A towards his private law firm, Madigan & Getzendanner, and in exchange, MADIGAN agreed to assist, in his official capacity as Speaker of the House of Representatives, in advising and inducing the Governor of the State of Illinois to appoint Alderman A to a State board that would pay Alderman A compensation of at least approximately $93,926 a year upon Alderman A’s retirement from the City Council.
It was further part of the scheme that, on or about June 20, 2018, MADIGAN met with Alderman A and agreed to assist Alderman A with obtaining an appointment upon his retirement from the City Council to a State board that compensated its board members, in exchange for Alderman A’s assistance in steering business towards MADIGAN’s private law firm, Madigan & Getzendanner.
It was further part of the scheme that, on or about July 11, 2018, MADIGAN caused information concerning State board positions, including the composition of each State board, how board members were appointed, board terms, and board compensation, to be delivered to Alderman A’s office.
It was further part of the scheme that, on or about July 23, 2018, at MADIGAN’s request, Alderman A contacted Individual A-1, and asked Individual A-1 to meet with MADIGAN so that MADIGAN could introduce himself for purposes of obtaining legal business from Individual A-1.
It was further part of the scheme that, on or about August 2, 2018, MADIGAN met with Alderman A, and during the meeting: (a) Alderman A explained that he was most interested in appointment to a State board that would pay him over $100,000 a year; (b) MADIGAN explained that he would assist Alderman A in obtaining an appointment to a State board by “go[ing] to [the future Governor of the State of Illinois]. That’s what I would do. . . . So you’d come in as [the future Governor’s] recommendation;” (c) Alderman A assured MADIGAN that “there’s a lot of good stuff happening in my ward” and that he would help MADIGAN obtain legal business for his private law firm; and (d) MADIGAN in return assured Alderman A that he would help him obtain a State board appointment by telling Alderman A, “Just leave it in my hands,” and asked that Alderman A also help a relative of MADIGAN and the relative’s employer obtain business from Organization B.
It was further part of the scheme that, on or about August 3, 2018, MADIGAN contacted Alderman A’s assistant to check on the status of the planned meeting with Individual A-1.
It was further part of the scheme that, on or about August 15, 2018, MADIGAN contacted Alderman A to check on the status of the planned meeting with Individual A-1, and asked Alderman A to convince Individual A-1 to provide MADIGAN legal business for a specific commercial real property located in Chicago that MADIGAN believed Company A to have an interest in.
It was further part of the scheme that, on or about August 21, 2018, MADIGAN caused an assistant to send an email to Alderman A’s assistant that confirmed that MADIGAN would be available to meet with Individual A-1 on September 4, 2018.
It was further part of the scheme that, on or about August 31, 2018, at MADIGAN’s request, Alderman A advised Individual A-1 that MADIGAN was interested in obtaining tax work for a specific piece of commercial real property
It was further part of the scheme that, on or about September 4, 2018, MADIGAN met with Alderman A and Individual A-1 at his law firm, Madigan & Getzendanner, for the purpose of MADIGAN soliciting business for his private law firm from Company A.
It was further part of the scheme that, on or about October 9, 2018, based on MADIGAN’s request, Alderman A contacted Individual A-1.
It was further part of the scheme that, on or about October 26, 2018, MADIGAN met with Alderman A, and after Alderman A advised MADIGAN that Individual A-1 had agreed to give MADIGAN’s law firm business, MADIGAN assured Alderman A that he would advise and induce the Governor of Illinois to appoint Alderman A to a State board.
It was further part of the scheme that, on or about November 23, 2018, MADIGAN met with Alderman A, and during the meeting: (a) Alderman A advised MADIGAN that he would not run for re-election, but was still committed to generating additional business for MADIGAN’s law firm; (b) MADIGAN thanked Alderman A and asked Alderman A, “Do you wanna go forward now on one of those state appointments?”; (c) MADIGAN asked for Alderman A’s resume, “Because I wanna have a meeting with [the Governor-elect] the week after next”; (d) MADIGAN explained that MADIGAN wanted to let the Governor-elect “know what’s coming next,” but that his communication with the Governor-elect did not “need to be in writing. I can just verbally tell him”; and (e) after Alderman A indicated a relative was interested in a State job, MADIGAN asked for the relative’s resume as well.
It was further part of the scheme that, on or about December 1, 2018, MADIGAN called Alderman A and confirmed Alderman A’s interest in being appointed to the Illinois Commerce Commission or the Illinois Labor Relations Board.
It was further part of the scheme that, on or about December 4, 2018, pursuant to MADIGAN’s earlier request for Alderman A’s and Alderman A’s relative’s resumes, Alderman A’s assistant emailed copies of these resumes to an assistant who worked at the Thirteenth Ward Office.
It was further part of the scheme that, on or about December 4, 2018, an assistant who worked at the Thirteenth Ward Office emailed the resumes for Alderman A and Alderman A’s relative to MADIGAN’s assistant at Madigan & Getzendanner.
It was further part of the scheme that, on or about December 4, 2018, MADIGAN met with the Governor-elect for the State of Illinois to discuss, among other things, the composition of the State boards.
It was further part of the scheme that MADIGAN concealed, misrepresented, and hid and caused to be concealed, misrepresented and hidden, the existence and purpose of the scheme and the acts done in furtherance of the scheme.
Obviously, Solis didn’t get any such appointment.
* From Emily Bittner at the governor’s office…
The Governor does not recall Michael Madigan ever asking him to consider Danny Solis for any position. In addition, the administration has no record of Solis being recommended by Madigan. In addition, he was never vetted, appointed or hired for any role in the administration.
* US Attorney Lausch was asked about the Pritzker administration job…
There is no allegation in this indictment against the governor or his staff. … There’s no allegation in the indictment that the state board position was actually given.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 4:07 pm
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
Previous Post: *** UPDATED x1 *** Madigan indictment react
Next Post: “The 19″ release statement on Madigan indictment
WordPress Mobile Edition available at alexking.org.
powered by WordPress.
Link to watch the press conference?
Comment by AD Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 4:19 pm
-AD -
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/chicago-politics/former-illinois-house-speaker-michael-madigan-charged-with-racketeering/2773445/
Comment by Stu Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 4:21 pm
I honestly never thought I would see this.
Comment by Rahm's Parking Meter Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 4:21 pm
It’s a sad day for anyone in politics when a negative story only perpetuates a negative outlook to the masses on what our line of work truly is. One bad apple truly ruins it for the rest.
Comment by JR Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 4:24 pm
actually, all the rotten apples ruin it for the one good apple.
Comment by jim Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 4:28 pm
Thank you for your service JR but…
https://www.forbes.com/sites/niallmccarthy/2020/02/19/the-most-corrupt-states-in-america-infographic/
Comment by Lurker Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 4:30 pm
Well he did eat an apple every day.
Comment by Big Dipper Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 4:31 pm
Election year so let’s do this now.
Comment by Real Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 4:36 pm
That Forbes article from Lurker @4:30pm is interesting. But instead of “per inhabitants,” I would love to see “per elected officials.” With 50 aldermen, Chicago has a lot of opportunities…(perhaps itself part of the corruption)
Comment by Leslie K Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 4:39 pm
We should be grateful that Sen. Durbin demanded that the US Dept of Justice retain USA John Lausch last year in Jan.
Not sure how things would have gone with this case had the Biden Administration would have fired USA Lausch; a holdover of the Trump Admin.
Comment by Pizza Man Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 4:42 pm
== the existence and purpose of the scheme and the acts done in furtherance of the scheme. ==
Which tracks back to the court decision a few weeks ago in the ComEd case on how it’s not just the act that is illegal, it is also the intent to commit the act even before you actually do anything.
Comment by TheInvisibleMan Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 4:47 pm
== the administration has no record==
I mean, duh.
“I can just verbally tell him”
Comment by fs Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 4:49 pm
Wonder how much JB considered giving Solis the position or whether someone or something stopped him. Lucky this didn’t blow up in his face.
Comment by ElTacoBandito Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 4:51 pm
==violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 666==
Henceforth to be known as Madistopheles.
Comment by City Zen Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 4:55 pm
I assume the small number of comments is because the vast majority of CapFax commenters are on the phone with lawyers rn?
Comment by paradox Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 5:06 pm
Does cap fax break the traffic record today? Is that record still held by blago’s arrest day?
Comment by Droppin gs Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 5:08 pm
===I assume…===
You know what happens when you assume,
For me, these reactions, it comes down to the same facts since that summer presser in 2020;
A million documents, hours of tapes, and now it’s actually real, a real indictment, no speculation, no guessing…
… watch what does happen… and now it happened.
It’s 22 counts.
It’s with McClain.
It’s wires, transcripts, even CFR type “enterprise”.
You can’t wait out the G, they have the cash and time.
What more can be said?
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 5:13 pm
===Is that record still held by blago’s arrest day? ===
Just about every day of the Rauner administration was above that level of traffic. Growth happens.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 5:14 pm
Indicted and convicted are years apart. Do you really think he will be convicted? Not with his connections.
Comment by Jeff Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 5:19 pm
==Wonder how much JB considered giving Solis the position==
I wonder if Madigan even asked him.
Comment by The Velvet Frog Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 5:19 pm
==Do you really think he will be convicted?==
Yes. But time will tell either way.
Comment by The Velvet Frog Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 5:20 pm
==One bad apple ==
lol.
Comment by Responsa Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 5:22 pm
Bad luck on the timing for Madigan. He can’t just send some celebrities to the current White House and get a pardon.
Comment by Anon324 Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 5:30 pm
Which tracks back to the court decision a few weeks ago in the ===ComEd case on how it’s not just the act that is illegal, it is also the intent to commit the act even before you actually do anything.===
Aspirational crimes as Fitzgerald said about Blago
Comment by markg8 Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 5:32 pm
Marty, Silvana, Angie, Susan investigation is not over…
Comment by BlackRunningBoards Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 5:37 pm
Didn’t we know all this already? A long time ago?
Comment by Lincoln Lad Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 5:52 pm
that’s a lotta over acts. I’m not remembering all the facts if they were out there…oh so many. why did it start in 2011? does this mean all the others not named will get charged? who is the person from Elmwood Park?
Comment by Amalia Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 5:56 pm
It always seemed noteworthy to me that ComEd and Ed Burke both hired Jenner & Block as their lawyer. I don’t want to make a bunch of wild accusations, but that coincidence always seemed a little too coincidental.
Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 5:59 pm
I never thought the feds would land this tuna.
Comment by northsider (the original) Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 6:02 pm
It was wise of Lisa to step away from Illinois politics when she did.
Comment by Responsa Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 6:16 pm
It seems like Madigan just (sloppily) got caught on Solis’s wire.
Solis was a real snake and certainly deserves as much prison time as anyone else.
Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 6:21 pm
That sound you hear is everyone involved in Illinois politics for the past 40 years pressing the search button looking to see if their friends/enemies are somehow attached to this mess.
I’ve seen these Madigan-related jerks operate for 25+ years. Not gonna’ shed a single tear for any of ‘em.
Comment by Just Me 2 Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 6:38 pm
If the investigation is actually ongoing, me thinks many appointed Cook County Judges about to have some sleepless nights over how they exactly were appointed.
Comment by Mrs. O’Leary Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 6:42 pm
Madigan comes across as an old man in this indictment. Solis basically says this is a quid pro quo, and Madigan doesn’t shut it down. I don’t think Madigan gets taken by that snake 20 years ago. Everyone gets old though if you live long enough.
Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 6:48 pm
This was a long time coming and could not happen to a more deserving group of defendants. No effort should be put forth to defend or even suggest that illegal activity is smart politics.
Michael Madigan has earned a deserving capstone for his career. Let us not romanticize him.
Comment by Candy Dogood Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 7:11 pm
I will acknowledge that I am old school. And that things are done completely different now. But a lot of what Mike Madigan has been involved with is old style personal patronage. It was standard practice for Committeemen to have business friends that they could refer individuals for employment when employment was.not available on the public payroll for said individual. Thus one could see situations where the jobs with ComED and AT&T could be considered in that light.
But in today’s climate such situations are considered inappropriate and illegal because they imply that something was gained by the hiring.
In fact the same could be said of many former staffers of Legislative Leaders who got key staff jobs for companies or associations that deal with the Genera! Assembly.
Comment by D Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 7:22 pm
== But a lot of what Mike Madigan has been involved with is old style personal patronage. It was standard practice for Committeemen to have business friends that they could refer individuals for employment when employment was.not available on the public payroll ==
Absolutely correct, D. Many of the people / committeemen interviewed in “We Dont Want Nobody Nobody Sent” by Rakove talked about this openly. And I am with you about being old school.
Comment by low level Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 10:21 pm
== Indicted and convicted are years apart ==
Any prosecutor worth his salary can get an indictment.
While I personally think he is guilty of the racketeering, that is a somewhat hard crime to prove. This sgiw has quite a few episodes to still play out before they get a conviction.
Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 10:46 pm
show … not sgiw
Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 10:47 pm
As to the above comments about aspirational crime as well as simple traditional patronage, would there be a crime if those who received jobs tied to ComEd had actually performed work in a volume and at a level commensurate with the salaries and/or consulting fees that they received.
Comment by Midwestern Thursday, Mar 3, 22 @ 12:36 am
Lausch says “in this indictment”. Is there another one?
Comment by Galway Bay Thursday, Mar 3, 22 @ 4:53 am
People who asking if they think he will be convicted.
Well, considering the feds have like a 99.6% conviction rate I’m going to say absolutely he will be.
Comment by The Dude Thursday, Mar 3, 22 @ 5:55 am