CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) - The jury has found former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan guilty on 10 counts of bribery conspiracy, bribery and wire fraud in the monthslong federal corruption trial.
After announcing they were deadlocked on 12 counts, the jury reached a partial verdict on Wednesday.
Madigan, who was speaker for more than three decades and once led the Democratic Party of Illinois, was charged in a 23-count indictment with racketeering conspiracy, using interstate facilities in aid of bribery, wire fraud and attempted extortion.
The jury voted guilty on the 10 counts related to Madigan's dealings with ComED and an effort to put former Chicago Alderman Danny Solis on a State board.
Madigan was acquitted of the seven of the charges. There were six counts against Madigan that the jury could not reach a verdict.
Standing trial alongside Madigan was longtime confidant Michael McClain, who prosecutors called Madigan’s “mouthpiece.” Jurors were deadlocked on all of the charges McClain faced. The onetime state legislator and former lobbyist also stood trial last year in a related case and was convicted with three others of a bribery conspiracy involving ComEd, the state’s largest utility company.
Wednesday marked the 11th day of jury deliberations of a trial that began in early October.
It was not a clean sweep for the Justice Department.
Still, acting US Attorney Morris Pasqual says federal prosecutors have notched a win.
“This is a historic conviction, which ranks high in the annals of criminal cases tried in this courtroom.”
He said the former House Speaker breached the public trust over and over again, a sentiment echoed by acting IRS Special Agent in Charge Ramsey Covington.
“Michael Madigan used his position of power to manipulate government processes for personal and financial gain. His actions were not just unethical, they were illegal.”
Madigan's co-defendant, top aide Michael McLean was cleared of the charges against him in this trial, but he has other cases.
The backbone of federal prosecutors’ case was hours of videos and phone calls secretly recorded by a onetime Chicago alderman turned FBI informant. But the most surprising moment was when the normally private Madigan took the stand himself, strongly denying all wrongdoing.
“When people asked me for help, if possible, I tried to help them,” he testified.
Madigan became the highest-ranking public official to testify at their own trial since former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
This is a developing story. Stay tuned to WBBM Newsradio for an updates.
The Associated Press and WBBM's Craig Dellimore contributed to this report.
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