CHICAGO (WGN) Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, a fixture in Illinois politics for more than 50 years, left the Everett M. Dirksen U.S. Courthouse on Wednesday a convicted felon and now faces prison time after a jury found him guilty of federal corruption.

The jury in the trial of Madigan, 82, and longtime political confidant Michael McClain arrived at a partial verdict Wednesday after 16 weeks of testimony and 60 hours of deliberations.

“Michael Madigan, who stood at the very top of state government, stands convicted of 10 counts of bribery and corruption,” acting U.S. Attorney Morris Pasqual declared.

While Madigan’s jury found him guilty on 10 counts, it was deadlocked on the biggest charge, racketeering conspiracy.

The landmark trial, which lasted more than four months, laid out the once-hidden affairs of the longest-serving legislative leader in American history and his allies in open court. After 11 days of deliberations, a jury of eight women and four men agreed on 17 counts but was deadlocked on the other 12.

“It is our belief this impasse will not be overcome,” the jury’s note said.

For McClain, all counts were noted as blank or deadlocked.

The jury found Madigan not guilty on seven counts, including another bribery charge. He was also found not guilty when it came to another extortion charge.

SEE ALSO: Madigan juror recounts deliberation process following verdict: ‘It was kind of emotional’

Regardless, prosecutors declared victory.

“Bribery, whether it’s the old-fashioned cash stuffed in an envelope, or the more refined version practiced by Madigan, is still illegal. It’s still corrupt, and it’s still against the law,” Pasqual said.

While Madigan faces decades in prison on his charges, several attorneys believe he’ll get far less, given his age and record of no prior criminal convictions. A sentencing date has yet to be set.

Around 11 a.m. Wednesday, the jury began to read the decision on the counts. All told, Madigan was found guilty on 10 counts and not guilty on seven counts. The jury was deadlocked on six counts:

Count: 1: Blank
Count 2: Madigan guilty
Count 3: Madigan not guilty
Count 4: Madigan guilty
Count 5: Madigan guilty
Count 6: Madigan guilty
Count 7: Madigan not guilty
Count 8: Madigan guilty
Count 9: Madigan guilty
Count 10: Madigan guilty
Count 11: Madigan not guilty
Count 12: Madigan guilty
Count 13: Madigan guilty
Count 14: Madigan guilty
Count 15: Madigan not guilty
Count 16: Madigan not guilty
Count 17: Madigan not guilty
Count 18: Madigan not guilty
Count 19-23: Blank

After the partial verdict was read, the judge told the jury their service had been commendable.

For Illinois Republicans, the conviction of the Democratic mainstay Madigan confirms what they’ve been saying for years.

“Mike Madigan’s empire of corruption has gone from the bottom part of Illinois all the way through Cook County,” former Illinois GOP co-chair Aaron Del Mar told WGN. “This just is a great example of how, after four decades of being in charge, he’s finally being held accountable.”

McClain, Madigan’s co-defendant and former ComEd lobbyist who was previously convicted in a 2023 corruption trial walked out of the courtroom Wednesday with no additional criminal convictions, the jury deadlocking on all six of his corruption charges.

“Mike never intended to break the law,” Patrick Cotter, McClain’s defense attorney, said. “And somebody, or somebodies, on that jury got it.”

The Trial

The trial, which began on Oct. 8, 2024, was estimated to take about 10 weeks. From start to finish, it took 17 weeks before jurors reached a verdict.

A jury of eight women, four men, and four alternates heard testimony from almost 60 witnesses. Evidence included about 150 wiretapped calls and secretly recorded videos, including one where Madigan and McClain shared a laugh about all the money their associates made for what were essentially no-show jobs at ComEd.

Jurors elected a man in his 50s to be the foreman of the jury, which convened its first day of deliberations on Jan. 29 after months of testimony and close to a week of closing arguments.

Madigan, who was known for operating off-the-books, steering clear of the press, and rarely having a cellphone, sent shockwaves with his choice to testify in his own defense. His co-defendant declined to take the stand.

The Government’s Case: ‘Power’ and ‘Profit’

During the trial, prosecutors drilled down the argument that Madigan, who resigned from his seat in 2021 after failing to garner enough needed votes, ran his political operations like a criminal enterprise with the intention of increasing power and profit for himself and his loyalists, and he did it with the help of McClain.

“He had the trust that was placed in him by each and every member of the public. Mr. Madigan abused that trust. He lost his way. He was blinded by profit, by power, and by his desire to stay in power,” said lead prosecutor and Assistant U.S. Attorney Amarjeet Bhachu.

The so-called “enterprise,” mentioned throughout the trial and detailed in the 116-page indictment, was made up of the office of the ex-speaker, the 13th Ward Democratic organization, and the Madigan & Getzendanner law firm.

The prosecution’s case detailed five alleged schemes related to ComEd, AT&T Illinois, Union West, a Chinatown parcel and a board seat for former 25^TH Ward Ald. Danny Solis.

Prosecutors claimed leadership with the two utility companies arranged no-work or little-work contractor jobs with Madigan allies as bribes in exchange for the ex-speaker’s support on key legislation.

Throughout the trial, prosecutors focused on the point that neither Madigan nor McClain acted alone and called it a “coordinated effort.”

One of the people Madigan allegedly used to gain private business for his law firm was Solis, the government’s star witness. The former alderman, who agreed to cooperate with the feds following allegations against him, started wearing a wire in 2016, which captured his private conversations with Madigan and others.

Prosecutors have focused highly on Solis’ relationship with Madigan. Madigan, the government argued, initially agreed to pursue a state board appointment for Solis, not for the good of the people he serves, but for personal gain for his private law firm, Madigan & Getzendanner.  

Seven of the 23 counts in the indictment are related to the state board appointment and Solis, who was the focus of closing arguments by the Madigan defense team.

Attorney Daniel Collins called Solis a “malignant tumor in the heart of this case” and a “walking crime wave.”

Solis’ cooperation paved the way for prosecutors to obtain additional evidence for two other schemes.

Six counts in the indictment are related to the alleged scheme involving ComEd.

Madigan and McClain arranged subcontractor jobs for four of the ex-speaker’s allies for about $1.3 million for little or no work, prosecutors argued. This was to win over Madigan’s support on critical energy legislation in Springfield.

The defense team for McClain argued he passed along recommendations but did not exchange jobs for official action. Likewise, Madigan’s team argued he never took official action in exchange for any hires.

After Madigan denied knowing ComEd subcontractors had no-show jobs, prosecutors got the green light to play a once inadmissible wiretapped call between the Speaker and his former right-hand man. Judge John Robert Blakey reversed that decision and allowed the call to be played after prosecutors argued his testimony provided an opening for it.

“Some of these guys have made out like bandits,” Madigan told McClain in that call played for jurors.

McClain and three other defendants were convicted in the 2023 “ComEd Four” trial and found guilty of conspiring to bribe Madigan. Jurors did not know about his previous conviction.

Also included in the charges related to ComEd were the allegations Madigan and McClain pressured ComEd to retain the law firm of Reyes Kurson, because one of its partners, Victor Reyes, was a prolific fundraiser for the Democratic Party of Illinois.

Prosecutors claim Madigan and McClain wanted ComEd to place Juan Ochoa, former Navy Pier and McCormick Place boss, on their board of directors. This was reportedly a favor for U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez, a Madigan ally and key Latino voice in the state’s congressional delegation.

Three other schemes involved in the indictment were associated with Union West, a mixed-use luxury building in the West Loop, a land transfer involving a parcel in Chinatown, and one involving AT&T Illinois.

Madigan and McClain were charged with conspiracy related to allegations involving AT&T Illinois. According to the indictment, the pair were accused of working with top leadership at AT&T Illinois to solicit bribes by arranging for former State Rep. Eddie Acevedo to be paid indirectly by the company.

Acevedo, a key ally of Madigan in the Illinois General Assembly’s Latino Caucus, reportedly was paid $22,500 over nine months for a no-work contract. In exchange for the Acevedo contract, prosecutors argued Madigan voted in favor of a bill ending mandatory landline service a top legislative priority at the time for the phone company.

In the final two schemes in the indictment, prosecutors accused Madigan of illegally trying to steer business to his private law firm amid efforts to develop a state-owned piece of land in Chinatown and turn it into a commercial property.

For the land to be sold to developers, it needed to be transferred to the city first, the indictment detailed. Solis, whose ward the parking lot was in, allegedly told Madigan he could help get business for his law firm if the land transfer was successful.

Madigan was also charged in connection with trying to get the developer of a West Loop building to hire his law firm in exchange for Solis’ help with zoning issues.

Secret recordings showing Madigan meeting with developers and another showing the ex-speaker on video talking to Solis before a meeting were played during the trial, taken by the alderman turned FBI mole.

According to a filing on Jan. 23, in the event of a verdict, the government will look to seek approximately $3.24 million in forfeiture.