Co-defendant Michael McClain's defense continues closing arguments in former IL Speaker Mike Madigan corruption trial
Share and Follow

CHICAGO (WLS) — Former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan’s co-defendant Michael McClain’s defense gave closing arguments Tuesday.

The jury began hearing defense attorney Patrick Cotter’s closing arguments on Tuesday morning.

Madigan’s defense team wrapped up their final presentation to the jury on Monday.

Madigan’s team started Friday afternoon, following a 12-hour closing argument delivered by the government over two and a half days.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

Madigan’s defense attorney Dan Collins continued his final presentation to the jury Monday by tearing into former alderman-turned-government-mole Danny Solis.

“He’s not simply a walking microphone,” said Collins, referring to the prosecution’s description of Solis last week, when they told the jury to set aside the long list of crimes committed by the former Zoning Committee chair.

Prosecutors asked the jury to assess his contribution as a witness solely on the basis of the mountain of undercover recordings he provided during his two-and-a-half-year cooperation.

“This is all a stage production by the government and Danny Solis,” said Collins, who has repeatedly said prosecutors have no evidence to prove the former House speaker ever solicited or received bribes from Solis or anyone else.

The tear down was just one of three Monday.

Madigan’s defense attorney applied the same treatment to former ComEd Executive Fidel Marquez, who, like Solis, turned government mole to avoid prosecution for his role in what the government has described as a years-long effort by the utility company to bribe the then-speaker in exchange for his help in Springfield.

Marquez recorded dozens of his phone calls and meetings with other ComEd executives, as well as with Madigan’s co-defendant, Mike McClain.

Collins said McClain was just an old lobbyist exaggerating his importance to others, using Madigan’s name without the speaker’s knowledge to push his own agenda.

On Friday, the judge told the jury not to expect to start their deliberations before Tuesday.

It was 14 weeks ago when the jury was first seated.

After McClain’s defense, the jury will hear the government’s rebuttal before going into deliberations.

Related Coverage: How we got to here

Opening statements begin in former IL House Speaker Mike Madigan corruption trial
Jury selection begins this week in corruption trial of former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan
ComEd to pay $200M in federal bribery investigation; Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan implicated in charge
House Speaker Michael Madigan polling Democratic caucus on whether he should step down
Special House committee to probe Michael Madigan bribery allegations stemming from ComEd investigation
IL House Speaker Michael Madigan continues to lose support amid ComEd investigation implications
Mike Madigan resigns as Democratic Party of Illinois chairman
Former IL House Speaker Mike Madigan indicted on charges including bribery, racketeering
Former IL House speaker Michael Madigan indicted on racketeering, bribery, more
Mike Madigan charged with crimes usually associated with Chicago mob
Michael Madigan indictment: Former House speaker pleads not guilty in federal corruption case
Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan enters not guilty plea on all counts in federal case
All defendants found guilty on all counts in ‘ComEd 4’ trial surrounding ex-Speaker Mike Madigan
Jury finds Mike Madigan confidant Tim Mapes guilty in perjury case
Former Speaker Mike Madigan lawyers ask judge to dismiss 14 counts, citing recent SCOTUS ruling
Former IL House Speaker Michael Madigan takes stand in own defense in corruption trial

Copyright © 2025 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Pete Hegseth fires Navy chief of staff Jon Harrison

Pete Hegseth Dismisses Navy Chief of Staff Jon Harrison from Position

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday fired Navy chief of staff Jon…
Keith Urban shocks with vicious lyric change after Nicole Kidman split

Keith Urban Stuns Fans with Intense Lyric Changes Post-Nicole Kidman Breakup

Keith Urban made a sharp lyrical change to his breakup song “You’ll…
Nick Sortor, conservative influencer, arrested outside Portland ICE facility

Conservative Influencer Nick Sortor Taken into Custody Near Portland ICE Center

() Conservative influencer Nick Sortor, who has 1.2 million followers on X,…
Latter-day Saints hold first general conference without a president in at least a century

For the first time in over 100 years, the Latter-day Saints conduct a general conference without a president leading the event.

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day…
UK police accidentally shot victim while rushing to stop synagogue attacker

UK police accidentally shot victim while rushing to stop synagogue attacker

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! One of the two…
The holy day murderer on bail for rape: Terrorist's life as a pyjama-wearing, debt ridden loner whose wife left him

Bailed Terror Suspect Accused of Rape: The Troubling Story of a Man Abandoned by His Wife

The Yom Kippur killer was on bail for alleged rape before his…
'Girlmore Girls' star Lauren Graham gets star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

‘Gilmore Girls’ Star Lauren Graham Honored with a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

HOLLYWOOD, LOS ANGELES (KABC) — Lauren Graham, best known for playing the…
Iran more than doubles state executions in first half of 2025

Iran executes 6 prisoners accused of carrying out attacks for Israel

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! Iran reportedly executed six…