Madigan Trial Testimony: McClain Acted as "Double Agent"

by Hannah Meisel CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS

The former lead attorney for electric utility Commonwealth Edison testified to a federal jury Tuesday that he sometimes felt ComEd’s longtime top outside lobbyist acted as a – quote – “double agent.”

Capitol News Illinois reports former ComEd lawyer Tom O’Neill said the lobbyist often seemed to be working on behalf of ex-Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan.

The lobbyist, Mike McClain, was for decades a close friend and advisor to Madigan, and now the two are standing trial on bribery and racketeering charges. The feds allege ComEd bribed Madigan in the form of jobs and contracts for the speaker’s political allies – and that McClain made the arrangements.

But under questioning from defense attorneys, O’Neill testified he didn’t believe any of the job recommendations McClain ever made to ComEd constituted bribes. He also didn’t believe fulfilling the job recommendations ever moved the needle on legislation ComEd was pursuing in Springfield.