Closing Arguments Continue Today in Madigan Trial

(MADIGAN)

Closing arguments continued Friday in the federal corruption trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan as the defense finally began their presentations.

Capitol News Illinois reports that prosecutors took two full days to get through their closing arguments, delaying jury deliberations until Tuesday at the earliest. //It’s the latest slowdown in the trial that began in October and was originally scheduled to end before the holidays.

Madigan is charged with nearly two-dozen counts of bribery, extortion and wire fraud. The feds allege he and his co-defendant, longtime Springfield lobbyist Mike McClain, operated a criminal enterprise meant to enhance Madigan’s power and enrich his allies.

But the former speaker’s attorneys repeatedly insisted prosecutors are – quote – shoving misshapen puzzle pieces together” in order to prove their case. They urged the jury to look at evidence in its larger context and claimed the government ignored key nuances.