Michael Madigan’s legal team has wrapped up their defense in a high-profile racketeering case, with closing arguments expected soon.
Chicago: So, Michael Madigan’s legal team just finished their case in this big racketeering trial. They’re trying to convince the jury that the feds went too far with their claims against him. Madigan, once a major player in Illinois politics, took the stand himself, which is pretty rare.
Over the past week, his lawyers called 12 witnesses, which is a lot for a defendant in these kinds of trials. Madigan himself testified for almost 12 hours! He shared his side of the story, but some jurors looked a bit skeptical, especially when he talked about his dealings with a former alderman.
His team is hoping that the witnesses they brought in can help counter the prosecution’s evidence. Some of them seemed pretty credible, which might help Madigan’s case. But the jury’s reaction to Madigan’s testimony was mixed, and it’s hard to say if they’ll buy his explanations.
Next week, they’ll have closing arguments, and then the jury could start deliberating soon after. Madigan is facing serious accusations, including leading a criminal enterprise to boost his political power and reward his friends.
The feds claim that utilities like ComEd and AT&T paid Madigan’s associates for doing nothing, hoping he’d look favorably on their legislation. Madigan expressed anger about this, saying he expected his associates to work hard.
He even shared some personal stories, like why he doesn’t carry a cell phone and how his father influenced his work ethic. But when it came to explaining his relationship with the former alderman, he struggled a bit, especially when the word “quid pro quo” came up.
Madigan admitted he regretted spending time with the former alderman, which is a pretty big deal. His longtime law partner also testified, saying they had strict rules to avoid conflicts of interest, but the prosecution claims Madigan didn’t follow those rules.
As the trial wraps up, it’s clear that Madigan’s future hangs in the balance. The jury will soon decide if he’s guilty or not, and it’s anyone’s guess how this will turn out.
