Testimony Underway in Madigan Trial

(MADIGAN)

By Hannah Meisel CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS

Prosecutors called their first witnesses Tuesday in the federal corruption trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan.

Capitol News Illinois reports the jury heard from two former state lawmakers who served with Madigan in the Illinois House. Both Democrats had conflicts with the speaker during their years in office and testified Madigan exercised tight control over the legislative process in Springfield.

One of the witnesses claimed that after he declined to cast his vote to give Madigan another term as speaker in 2017, none of his bills passed. But defense attorneys showed him four bills that passed out of the House that year, including two that became law.

The jury also heard opening statements from lawyers for Madigan’s co-defendant Tuesday morning, claiming the feds – quote – “turned over heaven and earth” in their investigation but never found evidence of a bribery agreement.

The trial continues today in Chicago.