The day after one of Michael J. Madigan’s top door-knockers won a seat on the Cook County Board in October 2016, he placed a call to lobbyist Jay Doherty and explained that, “the Speaker wanted me to reach out.”
Longtime Madigan precinct captain Ed Moody had collected $144,000 since March 2014 from ComEd through Doherty’s firm, records show. But Doherty sometimes lobbied the county, where Moody would be serving as a public official after being chosen to fill a vacancy.
That caused enough concern to prompt two voicemails to land in Doherty’s inbox Oct. 9, 2016. Moody and Madigan ally Michael McClain called within two hours of each other. And both mentioned Madigan, Illinois’ longtime House speaker.
“Speaker suggested Ed and you get together and talk,” McClain said in a voicemail played in court Monday. “[Moody’s] got some disclosure things he’s gonna have to do.”
Moody’s money soon began to flow through the consulting firm of former Madigan aide Shaw Decremer, instead. All told, Moody would allegedly collect $354,750 from ComEd through third parties over more than six years, jurors in Madigan’s racketeering conspiracy trial heard.
In fact, an FBI forensic accountant told jurors that she confirmed $1.3 million in payments to Moody and four Madigan allies, paid by ComEd through such firms, over eight years. The other recipients were former City Council members Frank Olivo and Michael R. Zalewski, longtime Madigan campaign worker Raymond Nice and former state Rep. Edward “Eddie” Acevedo.
The accountant testified as prosecutors seemed to be nearing the end of their presentation involving the alleged bribery scheme at ComEd. The feds say Madigan’s allies were paid by the utility so that Madigan, who resigned in 2021, would look favorably at ComEd legislation. Prosecutors say the five recipients of the money did little, if anything, in return for the payments.
Trial highlights
Trial highlights
- An FBI accountant testified that five Madigan allies were paid $1.3 million by ComEd.
- Jurors were told Madigan’s trial could stretch into January
- Prosecutors seem to be nearing the end of their evidence of the alleged ComEd conspiracy.
Madigan is more broadly accused of leading a criminal enterprise designed to enhance his political power and enrich his allies. McClain, who is also on trial, is accused of acting as the Southwest Side Democrat’s agent.
U.S. District Judge John Blakey told jurors Monday that the trial — now in its fifth week of testimony — is no longer expected to wrap up by the end of the year. Rather, he said it could last through the holiday season and into January.
The 12 jurors and six alternates hearing the case seemed to react with a mix of sighs and knowing nods, along with a sarcastic chuckle from one juror when Blakey told them they’d have “a well-earned vacation” the week of Christmas.
Moody could be among the witnesses jurors hear from before prosecutors move on to other schemes alleged in the case. He testified in last year’s separate trial of McClain, Doherty and two other ComEd officials, and prosecutors have said they’ll summon him again.
On Monday, prosecutors called several FBI agents to the stand. Among them was Edward McNamara, who told jurors about a May 2019 search of McClain’s home in Quincy.
The panel got a glimpse of McClain’s basement office, including the exposed insulation in the walls and a row of at least 10 filing cabinets. That’s where agents recovered printed-off copies of McClain’s emails seeking internships and jobs for people allegedly tied to Madigan.
In two tote bags found in McClain’s Toyota Avalon, McNamara said agents found a handwritten note that included the words “Speaker” and “Available 24/7.”
Agents also found McClain’s well-known list of Madigan allies, written on stationary from the Talbott Hotel.
Also figuring in McClain’s earlier trial, it’s known as his ‘magic list.’
