Feds want $3.1 million from Michael Madigan after his conviction for ComEd bribery plot
Federal prosecutors say former Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan should forfeit $3.1 million for the nearly decadelong bribery conspiracy involving ComEd that a jury convicted him of last month.
The feds filed their request Friday with U.S. District Judge John Blakey, who is expected to hold a hearing on the matter June 9. That hearing is set to take place four days ahead of Madigan’s June 13 sentencing, also before Blakey.
The judge gave lawyers in the case until the end of the day Friday to file other post-trial motions, which could serve as a preview of the issues Madigan will raise on appeal. Madigan's defense attorneys filed a request later in the day for acquittal or a new trial, insisting that "Michael Madigan is not corrupt."
"He never exchanged his duty to serve his constituents for private benefit — the essence of corruption," they told the judge.
Such requests are routinely filed and rarely granted.
Madigan was the longest-serving state House leader in the United States. A jury found him guilty of conspiring to accept bribes from ComEd while it had legislation pending in Springfield.
It also convicted him of a plot to install former 25th Ward Ald. Danny Solis on a state board in exchange for Solis’ help securing private business for Madigan’s law firm.
However, the jury acquitted Madigan of some counts and failed to reach a verdict on others. Most notably, jurors couldn't agree whether to find Madigan guilty of a broad racketeering conspiracy in which he was accused of turning his political empire into a criminal enterprise.
The partial verdict came down at the end of a four-month trial that featured more than 60 witnesses. The jury deliberated for nearly 65 hours over 11 days.
Meanwhile, lawyers in the case agreed to let Blakey make his own determination about forfeiture. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Streicker argued in a 17-page court filing Friday that Madigan should be held responsible for $1.3 million paid by ComEd to five Madigan allies, as well as $1.8 million ComEd paid to a firm led by a sixth.
Jurors agreed that ComEd paid the money to Madigan’s allies in an illegal bid to influence Madigan as crucial legislation moved through Springfield, where the Southwest Side Democrat had enormous influence.
The recipients of the $1.3 million were former City Council members Frank Olivo and Michael R. Zalewski, former Cook County Recorder of Deeds Edward Moody, former state Rep. Edward “Eddie” Acevedo and longtime Madigan campaign worker Raymond Nice.
Of the five, only Acevedo has faced criminal charges, for cheating on his taxes.
The separate $1.8 million was paid by ComEd to the law firm of Reyes Kurson, where Madigan ally Victor Reyes is partner.
Streicker wrote that Madigan should forfeit the money “because he controlled and benefited from the bribes,” even though the money was paid not to him but to his associates.
“The payments to Madigan’s allies benefited Madigan, as they ensured the continued loyalty of a critical donor and other allies and ensured Madigan’s political workers (like Nice and Moody) would continue to go door-to-door,” Streicker wrote. “These payments saved Madigan from having to spend money from his own political committees.”
Streicker also argued that, if it turns out money isn’t available to satisfy the court’s judgment, the feds should be allowed to “identify or locate property subject to forfeiture, including substitute assets, and to seize property ordered forfeited.”